• Women's Health Nursing
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.204-221
• /
• 1999

Due to the ever increasing life-span of human beings, the average woman is living well into her 70's. Henceforth, they spend at least one-third of their life after menopause. Climacteric encompasses the time preceding, during, and proceeding menopause : a transitional period of shifting from the period of being fertile to the period of senescence. In other words, this is the time at which they lose the ability to reproduce. Menopause can influence a woman's sexual life immensely due to the physiological, social, and psychological changes that occur during that period. In korea, where some women still live according to Confucian Culture in terms of sexology, nurses can play a vital role in the dissemination of sexual facts to women. This study was designed to clarity the characteristic and satisfaction of sexual life. This was done according to the classification of three types of climacteric women : pre-meno-pausal, menopausal, and post-menopausal. I studied 159 climacteric women between the ages of 45 & 59, living in or around the vicinity of Taegu City. This study utilized the investigative tools for sexual life patterns which were constructed with field experts' consultation and reference review by the author. The sexual satisfaction was translated from DSFI. The climacteric symptoms were invented by Kupperman, This research is descriptive. The data was collected between July 15, 1998 and October 14, 1998. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and Pearson Correlations, and was computed with the SPSS program. The results obtained are summarized as follows; The frequency of sexual activity was highest in pre-menopause and declined after menopause. The frequency of genital caressing declined after menopause. The difference between the frequency of masturbation and coital pain was not significant according to the classification set forth in this experiment. Congruently, the frequency of orgasms declined after menopause. The mean satisfaction of sexual life is 27.1 years. The range of expected score is 9-45 years of age. Satisfaction was highest in the pre-menopausal group and proved to be statistically significant. Some of the general characteristics that affected the satisfaction a woman's sexual life in the climacteric stage during this project were ; age, income, satisfaction in younger pre-menopausal and the large income group than the other experimental groups. The climacteric symptoms were conversely correlated with the satisfaction in one's sexual life.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.195-201
• /
• 2011

We studied the relationship between prediction parameters and bone mineral density for pre-and-post menopausal women. We measured BMI%Fat by BIA, blood pressure and lipid profiles for 483 adult women who are in NPO state. SBP, TC, TG, LDL have significant statistical value in the postmenopause women group and postmenopause woman. The value of postmenopause women of these parameters are lower than premenopause woman. BMD has the most strongest relationship with LBM. The BMD and LDL level of postmenopause women have statistically negative relationship. The results show that for the premenopause cases, weight, BF, and HDL level were the major factors which affect the BMD. For postmenopause cases, however, weight, age, and LDL level turned out to be the most significant factors.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.89-99
• /
• 2008

Objectives Obesity is not only a matter of accumulation of adipose tissue but also a projection of self-cognition. This study examined the association between low self-esteem and visceral obesity; visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and visceral adipose tissue /subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio (VSR). Methods This cross-sectional study was performed in pre-menopausal obese(BMI $\geq\;25\;kg/m^2$) women in Seoul, from 2007 to 2008 (n=54). Simple anthropometry including BMI and waist circumference and Computed Tomography (CT) including VAT and VSR were done. To measure self-esteem, Rosenberg self-esteem scale (SES) questionnaire was administered. Subjects were given written consent and this study was performed under the permission of institutional review board of Kyung-Hee East-west Neo Medical Center. Results There was a significant relationship self esteem (SES score) with visceral obesity (VAT and VSR). 1. SES was correlated with VAT (r=-0.377, p<0.01) and VSR (r= -0.400, p<0.01) significantly by Pearson Correlation. 2. VAT and VSR could be predicted from SES by Simple linear regression. VAT = -1.701 ${\times}$ (SES score) +161.191 ($R^2$=0.142) VSR = -1.09${\times}$$10^{-2}$ ${\times}$ (SES score) +0.858 ($R^2$=0.160) Conclusions This study proves that low self-esteem might contribute to visceral obesity in Korean pre-menopausal obese women. Self-esteem and psychological factor should be considered in treatment of visceral obesity in adult-women.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.216-224
• /
• 2015

Objectives: Decreased fertility and impaired health owing to early menopause are significant health issues. Smoking is a modifiable health-related behavior that influences menopausal age. We investigated the effects of smoking-associated characteristics on menopausal age in Korean women. Methods: This study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2007 to 2012. Menopausal age in relation to smoking was analyzed as a Kaplan-Meier survival curve for 11 510 women (aged 30 to 65 years). The risk of entering menopause and experiencing early menopause (before age 48) related to smoking were assessed using a Cox proportional hazards model. Results: The menopausal age among smokers was 0.75 years lower than that among non-smokers (p<0.001). The results of the Cox proportional hazards model showed pre-correction and post-correction risk ratios for entering menopause related to smoking of 1.26 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09 to 1.46) and 1.27 (95% CI, 1.10 to 1.47), respectively, and pre-correction and post-correction risk ratios for experiencing early menopause related to smoking of 1.36 (95% CI, 1.03 to 1.80) and 1.40 (95% CI, 1.05 to 1.85), respectively. Conclusions: Smokers reached menopause earlier than non-smokers, and their risk for experiencing early menopause was higher.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.224-237
• /
• 2011

For establishing the efficacy against breast cancer occurrence, women's mammographic breast density and hot flush remission related to pre and post-menopausal symptoms were selected as biomarkers. Meta analysis applied the final selection of 40 papers from Medline to assess the efficacy of isoflavone-rich soy or supplements versus placebo under randomized controlled trials. Interestingly, the exposure to the purified isoflavones was more effective than the exposure to the crude extract of soy isoflavones for hot flush suppression. The length and the amount of dosage dependency is the most appropriately suggested to be one year long with 50~100 mg/day of isoflavone-rich soy or supplements. Funnel plots was used to interpret the results, overall effect of isoflavones on breast density in post-menopausal women was revealed to be less effect [effect size: 0.062, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.005 to 0.12], than that of pre-menopausal women (effect size: 0.101, CI: -0.003 to 0.205). The reason why breast density was found higher among the pre-menopausal than the post-menopausal women is that the phytoestrogens of dietary isoflavones were antagonized against estrogen by the basis of estrogen receptor binding affinity. Overall, the Meta analysis reported that isoflavone had limited influence on breast density by suppressing the expansion by only 2%, while it was more effective to suppressing the hot flush, showing a dramatic decrease of 23%.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.19
• /
• pp.8325-8330
• /
• 2014

Background: It is known that obesity is one of the risk factors for breast cancer although the association may differ between ethnic groups and with the menopausal status. Recently obesity-related risk factors including serum adiponectin and insulin levels have been analyzed together with BMI in association with breast cancer risk. Materials and Methods: We measured serum high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin and insulin levels in a hospital based case-control study, including 66 sets of Japanese female breast cancer cases and age and menopausal status matched controls. Serum levels of HMW adiponectin, insulin levels and body mass index (BMI) were examined in association with breast cancer risk with adjustment for the various known risk factors by menopausal status. Results: Women in the highest HMW adiponectin levels showed significant reduced risk of breast cancer in both pre and postmenopausal women (odds ratio (OR), 0.01; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.00-0.26 and 0.13; 0.03-0.57, respectively). Lower BMI showed decreased breast cancer risk in both pre and postmenopausal women (OR, 0.04; 95% CI, 0.00-0.69, OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.07-1.11, respectively). Conclusions: These results indicated that higher serum HMW adiponectin levels and lower BMI are associated with a decreased breast cancer risk in both pre and postmenopausal women in Japan, adding evidence for the obesity link.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.603-612
• /
• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of aromatherapy massage on abdominal fat and body image in post-menopausal women. Method: A Non-equivalent control group pre-post test Quasi-experimental design of random assignment was applied. All subjects received one hour of whole body massage as treatment by the same researcher every week for 6 weeks. Participants also massaged their own abdomen two times everyday for 5 days each week for 6 weeks, The two groups used different kinds of oil. The experimental group used 3% grapefruit oil, cypress and three other kinds of oil. The control group used grapeseed oil. Data was collected before and after the treatment using Siemens Somatom Sensation 4, a tape measure and MBSRQ. Data was analyzed by ANCOVA using the SPSS/PC+Win 12 Version. Result: Abdominal subcutaneous fat and waist circumference in the experimental group significantly decreased after aromathetapy massage compared to the control group. Body image in the experimental group was significantly better after aromathetapy massage than in the control group. Conclusion: These results suggest that Aromatheapy massage could be utilized as an effective intervention to reduce abdominal subcutaneous fat, waist circumference, and to improve body image in post-menopausal women.

• Nutritional Sciences
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.68-74
• /
• 2002

Studies of the relationship between the composition of serum fatty acids and blood pressure are complex and controversial. Fatty acids, important constituents of biological membranes, could potentially affect vasoreactivities including blood pressure. In this study the compositions of fatty acids in serum phospholipids were compared between three types of hypertensive subjects (men, pre-menopausal women, and post-menopausal women) and their respective nrmotensive controls. Serum lipids were extracted and phospholipids were separated by thin layer chromatography. The percentage of palmitic acid (16 : 0) in serum phospholipids was significantly higher and the percentage of stearic acid (18 : 0) was significantly lower in all three hypertensive groups, compared with their corresponding control groups. Only in the group of post-menopausal women, palmitic acid was closely associated wish increases in both systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), while stearic acid was associated with decreases in both SBP and DBP. The polyunsaturated fatty acids in serum phospholipids behaved differently from saturated fatty acids. The ratios of products / precursor fatty acids, such as $\sumLCPUFA\omega6/18 : 2\omega$6, 20 : 4$\omega$6/18 : 2$\omega$6, ∑LCPUFA$\omega$3/18 : 3$\omega$3 and 22 : 6$\omega$3/20 : 5$\omega$3, were all clearly associated with both SBP and DBP in hypertensive, post-menopausal women. Desaturation and elongation in fatty acid metabolism could affect the bioavailability of eicosanoid precursors. Changes in the constituent fatty acids of phospholipids and eicosanoid precursors may also influence fluidity, ionic transport, hormone receptors and enzyme activities in biological membranes. In conclusion, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in post-menopausal women was positively associated with the level of palmitic acid, and negatively associated with the level of stearic acid, in serum phospholipids. The relationships between serum phospholipid-$\omega$6 and $\omega$3 series fatty acids and blood pressure in women, especially in post-menopausal women, require further investigation by taking into consideration hormonal status and eicosanoid metabolism. Funker study is needed to determine the value of dietary manipulation of fatty acid constituents of serum phospholipids, relating to hypertension in women.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.34 no.7
• /
• pp.1334-1342
• /
• 2004

Purpose: This study was to investigate the factors influencing quality of life and difference of quality of life in a postmenopausal group compared to premenopausal women. Method: The subjects consisted of 213 women from 40 to 64 years old. The data were collected from June 1, 2003 to June 31, 2004 using structured questionnaires which included questions relating to demographic and obstetric background and 4 scales(climacteric symptoms scale, marital satisfaction scale, sex-role attitude scale, quality of life scale). Result: Comparing pre- and postmenopausal women, significant statistical differences were demonstrated in climacteric symptoms and sex-role attitude. However, quality of life was not different between pre- and postmenopausal women. In premenopausal women, marital satisfaction($32.7\%$) and educational level($8.0\%$) were significant predictors to explain quality of life. Marital satisfaction($12.9\%$) was significant predictor to explain quality of life in postmenopausal women. Conclusion: No difference of quality in life between pre- and postmenopausal women provides information for changing traditional approaches of menopause according to physiological changes as illness. In addition the study showed that it is necessary to use marital satisfaction information when developing nursing interventions to promote the quality of life.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.483-489
• /
• 2007

This study was performed to investigate dietary habits, and to evaluate the relationship between nutritional status and certain blood parameters in premenopausal and postmenopausal women living in Daejeon. Adult Korean females(n=110) that had visited the Health Promotion Center of Eulji University Hospital were analyzed. We examined blood parameters, body composition, and life style factors such as food habits and physical activity in pre- and post-menopausal women. The collected data were then analyzed to evaluate the various items. Overall, there were no differences between the pre- and post-menopausal women for food habit score, or for intakes of energy, protein, Int, iron, vitamin A, vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_2$, niacin, vitamin C, and calcium. However, carbohydrate intake was significantly higher in the postmenopausal women than in the premenopausal women. The Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans(KDRIs), in terms of energy, fat, calcium, vitamin A and vitamin $B_1$, were less than 100% in both the premenopausal women and postmenopausal women. All intakes of protein, iron, vitamin $B_2$, niacin, and vitamin C satisfied the KDRIs in both groups. Finally, the postmenopausal women had higher serum fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and alkaline phosphatase levels than the premenopausal women.