Therapeutic decisions for menopause: results of the DAMES project in central Massachusetts

In Brief Objective: To investigate the factors that influence therapeutic decisions at menopause, particularly those related to the burden of menopause symptoms, in a population of women living in Massachusetts, as part of the multisite DAMES (Decisions At Menopause Study). Design: A survey using face-to-face interviews with a randomly selected sample of 293 women aged 45 to 55 who are members of the Fallon Community Health Plan in Central Massachusetts. The instrument combined closed- and open-ended questions and elicited information about a number of health topics, including the symptoms experienced by respondents over the preceding month and the decisions they made regarding therapies. Results: Symptom reporting was found to be relatively high, with more than half of the sample reporting hot flashes, sleep disturbances, joint pains, and headaches in the month preceding the survey; one third to one half of the women reported palpitations, night sweats, fatigue, and numbness. The highest frequency of symptoms occurred during perimenopause. Nearly four fifths of the women consulted a healthcare provider, and one fifth used hormone therapy. More than half of the respondents said menopause is a difficult phase, and about half found decisionmaking about it to be difficult. Conclusions: This study documents a relatively heavy burden of symptoms in a relatively healthy population and provides an update on earlier studies in Massachusetts. This article is based on a survey on symptomatology and therapeutic decisions conducted on a representative sample of 293 women, aged 45 to 55, in central Massachusetts. It presents results regarding the most frequently reported symptoms, the use of hormone therapy, consultations with physicians, and decision making about medical management.