Prevalence of genitourinary and other climacteric symptoms in 61-year-old women.

In a population-based cohort study, 1280 women, aged 61, were interviewed regarding their genitourinary and other postmenopausal symptoms by means of an anonymous questionnaire. The group selected was to constitute all women of 61 years of age living in Uppsala county, Sweden. The response rate was 84%. All were postmenopausal women. Seventy-three percent of the women answering admitted some degree of urinary incontinence and 33% more severe degree. Forty-nine percent reported some degree of stress incontinence, 25% a more severe degree. Thirty-one percent experienced urge incontinence, 14% severely. A minority (4%), had had more than two urinary infections during the last year. The majority (67%) had changed urinating habits, going to the toilet at night and a minority complained of increased frequency of micturation (8%). Of the participating women, 59% were still sexually active, 43% had trouble with vaginal dryness and 10% with vaginal burning. Vasomotor problems such as hot flushes (30%), daily (33%) and nightly sweating (36%) were all common troubles. Forty-seven percent of the women had asked for medical help for estrogen deficiency problems, 82% were satisfied with the help they had received. Thirty-four percent were on estrogen therapy, 16% had systemic therapy 18% low dose estrogen treatment.