Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) following surgical menopause with that following gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa)-induced pseudomenopause.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Thirty-one women who received 3.75 mg of triptorelin injection subcutaneously every 4 weeks for 12 weeks after conservative surgery for severe endometriosis were reviewed (Group A). Thirty women who had surgical menopause for non-malignant conditions were reviewed after 12 weeks (Group B). Menopause-rating scale (MRS II) was used to assess the HRQOL.

RESULT:

Surgical menopause caused significant deterioration of HRQOL after 12 weeks, as compared to that caused by the pseudomenopause induced by the GnRHa injection (total MRS score: Group A, 16.60; Group B, 20.41; p = 0.04). Among the three subscales, there were no differences in the scores of somato-vegetative symptoms (Group A, 6.63; Group B, 6.90; p = 0.72) and urogenital symptoms (Group A, 3.50; Group B, 4.80; p = 0.06). Psychological symptoms showed significant difference (Group A, 6.46; Group B, 8.70; p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION:

Surgical menopause causes significant deterioration of HRQOL than that caused by the pseudomenopause state of GnRHa injection. Psychological symptoms are more pronounced in surgical menopause.