更年期的相關課題二十世紀初才引起各界學者注意，而我國尚屬起步階段，目前停經症狀研究仍以臨床對象為主，因此需要有更多這方面研究，才能提供本土化婦女真實停經的情形。本研究的目的主要是：(1) 探索臺北都會區婦女在醫院與社區不同樣本來源，其症狀上的反應如何。(2) 瞭解不同停經階段的中年婦女在自述症狀上的差異。研究對象為大臺北地區 40 ～ 60 歲的中老年婦女，樣本來源有一般樣本、醫院樣本、婦女及職業團體樣本，最後得到 668 人為分析對象。 結果發現停經前期：醫院樣本臉發熱發紅、陰道乾燥、出冷汗、乳房長痛、太緊張受不了、感覺憂鬱且沮喪、號哭、眼前一下看不見較多。停經中期：醫院樣本臉發熱發紅、出冷汗、子宮不正常出血、失眠較多，婦女及職業團體頭痛較少。婦女在不同經期症狀的異同裡；一般樣本的出冷汗是中期較高，臉發熱發紅是中、後期高於前期，骨頭痠痛、手腳或皮膚發麻、健忘、失眠、心悸是後期高於中期高於前期。醫院樣本期前無人便秘，只有中期有子宮不正常出血。婦女及職業團體中期最多臉發熱發紅、易激動與不能專心，後期最多陰道乾燥，失眠是停經前期較少。我們需要釐清生理上的不適的症狀、症候群或是病，也需要多研究一般社區婦女更年期的生理、心理變化，取代過去醫院樣本過高的症狀與疾病比率，以定義一般婦女的更年期。提供協助給中年婦女，改變她們以負面態度看待自然生理變化的停經期的觀念，期能了解更年期的迷思。

　　　　　Menopause has received very little attentionin the past, especially in the area of valid research studies. Issues related tomenopause have been studied in Western society for 30- 40 years. In Taiwan,However, studies have just begun. The menopausal symptoms of the previous month,reported by 668 women from communities, hospital, and vocational/voluntaryorganizations in the Taipei metropolitan area were analyzed with respect todifferent menopansal stages, i.e. pre-, peri-and post-meno- panusal stages,among the three different sample groups in different menopausal stages,respectively. Results showed that the most significant symptoms in the communitysample included night sweat during the peri-menopausal stage, hot flashes duringthe peri/post-menopausal stage, and boneache, numbness of extremities, amentia,insomnia and palpitation during the post menopausal stage. In general, hospitalpatients reported a higher frequency of symptoms, regardless of menopausal stagethan did the other two sample groups. For example, hot flashes, night sweats,abnormal uterine bleeding and insomnia were high in the peri-meno- pausal stageof the hospital sample. In addition to hot flashes and night sweats, suddenblackout, vaginal dryness, nervourness, depression, and excessing crying werealso high in the pre-menopausal stage of the hospital sample. How to distinguishthe physiological discomfort from the so-called symptoms or syndrome or illnessin medical terms has been discussed. We need to initiate intensive of studiesthe common physiological and psychological changes in women of the communitysample instead of the hospital sample which will elucidate the symptoms orillness of the women during menopausae. We need to characterize the common themeof menopause in order to dispel the myths surrounding menopause, and shed newlihgt on a subject that is important to women from all walks of life.