A study of the experience of Glasgow women in the climacteric years.

Overall, 424 women between 40 and 60 years of age were interviewed with reference to their experience of the menopause; 179 (42%) expressed a 'need for treatment' which was more marked in those who had had a hysterectomy (57%) or oophorectomy (76%). Of those who sought help (174) a large majority (92%) had seen their general practitioner and 72% received some form of drug therapy, predominantly hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or psychotropic drugs. Twenty-eight women were currently having HRT (7%) and 39 (9%) had previously had HRT. Only 12 women (3%) had received greater than 3 years of HRT and nine of these had had an oophorectomy. Only 1% of other women were 'long-term' users of HRT. Of the 424 women 11% expressed dissatisfaction with their general practitioner's approach to this subject.