Quantitative Comparison of Un-Stimulated Whole Saliva Flow Rate Among Menopausal Women and Same Aged Men

Abstract

<p><strong><em>Background and Objectives:</em> </strong>Menopause can be associated with psycho-somatic changes in oro-facial areas like xerostomia and Burning Mouth Syndrome, although these findings are controversial. The present study sought to compare the Un-stimulated Whole Saliva (UWS) flow rate of a group including menopausal &amp; postmenopausal women and same-aged men.<strong></strong></p><p><strong><em>Methods:</em> </strong>In this cross-sectional analytic-descriptive study 40 menopausal &amp; post-menopausal women (as experimental-group) and 40 same-aged men (as control group) without any systemic diseases and any drug consumption were divided into 2 groups, xerostomia was evaluated by a questionnaire, and their psychological conditions were assessed with HAD scale. UWS flow rate was measured by the spitting method. Data were analyzed by chi-square, Krusscal Walis and Mann-Whitney tests. <strong></strong></p><p><strong><em>Results:</em></strong> Mean of UWS flow rates in experimental group was significantly less than that in control group (P=0.006); no significant difference was found between the two groups regarding psychological condition. Also, menopausal women had significantly greater xerostomia than men (45% vs 15%) (P=0.003).</p><strong><em>Conclusion:</em> </strong>Based on this study, xerostomia and reduction in UWS flow rate are sequences of menopause, these findings necessitate the increasing awareness of menopausal &amp; postmenopausal women for controlling the methods of these problems