Negative attitudes toward menopause have persisted for centuries. Some have attempted to explain the cessation of menstrual blood flow through the presence of "inadequate pumping force through the blood vessels." Vaginal atrophy, bladder symptoms, cancer, gout, and arthritis were thought to occur during menopause. The boundaries between normal physiology and pathology with regard to menopause were not delineated until recently. That menopause was a natural process and that the symptoms were not fatal was first explained in a 1904 publication by Pancoast and others, entitled Beautiful Womanhood: Guide to Mental and Physical Development.
With menopause, an array of changes gradually occur over a period of several years, including changes in bleeding patterns, hot flashes, sleep disturbances, weight changes, vaginal discomfort, changes in sexuality, osteoporosis (or loss of bone mass), as well as changes in mood and cognition. In the 1960s, estrogen therapy was proposed as a remedy for menopausal symptoms and aging. Several studies were launched in subsequent years as part of women's health initiatives to investigate the risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT is believed to provide relief from menopausal symptoms, and offer protective effects against osteoporosis and CVD. However, HRT also carries additional risks, such as an increased chance of certain cancers. Current study results are expected to further clarify the effects of HRT.
