Explaining the colour of natural healthy gingiva.

To examine the differences between natural gingival colour in men and women. To determine the degree of predictability of changes in the gingival colour coordinates recorded for healthy gingiva, according to age, long-term medication, frequency of toothbrushing, and smoking habits. The CIELAB colour coordinates were recorded using a spectrophotometer for 360 Caucasian adult participants (aged 18-92 years), in three zones of the healthy attached gingiva of the maxillary central incisor. Regression models were created for each zone and each sex, taking the L*, a* and b* coordinates as dependent variables and age, frequency of toothbrushing, smoking habits (0-non-smoker; 1-smoker) and whether participants were taking long-term medication (0-no; 1-yes) as independent variables. The statistical analysis was conducted with SPSS version 26.0, using multiple regression models. Statistically significant differences between men and women were found only for colour coordinate b*, in all three zones. The only colour coordinate on which the predictor variables had a significant effect was the L* coordinate. In men, age and long-term medication had the greatest effect as predictors (maximum R2 = 0.149). In women, frequency of toothbrushing was the strongest predictor in the predictive models (maximum R2 = 0.099). The colour of gingiva in men contained a larger amount of blue, given that significantly lower values for colour coordinate b* were recorded in men than women, although this difference lacked clinical implications. For both sexes, the regression models produced had a modest predictive capacity. The L* coordinate was the dependent variable that showed the greatest predictability.

Degree of Standardisation in Ceramic Gingival Systems.

No gingival shade guide exists that can be used as a 'gold standard' in gingival shade selection. This research, therefore, aimed to determine whether comparable results in subjective gingival shade selection can be achieved using basic gingival colours produced by distinct manufacturers. It also aimed to explore how coverage of the colour space is affected by mixing these basic colours to create additional shades. To achieve these objectives, the basic gingival colours of three ceramic systems (Heraceram, Kulzer, Madrid, Spain; Vita VM9, Vita Zahnfabrik, Bad Säckingen, Germany; IPS Style, Ivoclar, Schaan, Liechtenstein) were analysed. The colour systems were expanded by creating porcelain gingival samples, whose colours were obtained by mixing the basic colours, altering each mixture by increments of 10%, and respecting the numerical order used by manufacturers to identify the colours. The colour coordinates of the basic and additional colours were recorded using spectrophotometry, and the intra- and inter-system colour differences were calculated using the Euclidean (ΔEab) and CIEDE2000 (ΔE00) formulae. None of the basic colours in the three systems, despite their similar nomenclature, were found to be interchangeable (the colour differences exceeded the gingival acceptability threshold: ΔE00 2.9 units). The expanded gingival colour systems, with mixtures altered by 10% increments, notably increased the gingival colour space covered by the original systems. The authors concluded that there are clear differences between the basic gingival colours produced by distinct manufacturers using the same nomenclature. Ceramic samples produced by mixing basic gingival colours are a resource with the potential to improve subjective gingival shade matching.

Coverage error and shade-match accuracy in three ceramic gingival systems.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Research into the coverage error (CE) of gingival systems that have been expanded by using ceramic specimens created by mixing basic colors is lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the CEs of 3 ceramic gingival color systems that have been expanded with basic-color mixtures from a sample of 360 White participants and to classify the participants according to the accuracy of the shade match achieved with each system. MATERIAL AND METHODS: L*a*b* color coordinates were recorded in 3 zones of attached gingiva for 360 White participants with healthy gingival tissue (187 men and 173 women). The CEs were calculated for 3 ceramic gingival systems that had been expanded with specimens obtained by mixing the basic colors in consecutive order, the color percentages in each mixture having been altered by 10% increments. The systems were Heraceram (Kulzer GmbH) (n=51); Vita VM9 (Vita-Zahnfabrik) (n=41); and IPS Style (Ivoclar AG) (n=41). The participants were classified into 3 groups according to how well the selected shade matched their gingival color (excellent, acceptable, or poor). The data were analyzed using a 1-way ANOVA with a randomized block design and the homogeneity of proportions test (α=.05). RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found between the CEs of the 3 expanded gingival systems in the 3 zones where gingival color was measured (P<.001). The expanded Heraceram system had the smallest CE (ΔE00: minimum 2.66 in the middle zone and maximum 2.95 at the mucogingival line). In the 3 gingival zones, the expanded IPS Style system produced the largest percentage of participants with a poor shade match (ΔE00: minimum 71.4% at the mucogingival line and maximum 75.8% at the free gingival margin), while the expanded Heraceram system had the lowest percentage of participants with a poor shade match (ΔE00: minimum 33.3% in the middle zone and maximum 41.7% at the mucogingival line). CONCLUSIONS: The CEs calculated for the expanded Vita VM9 and IPS Style ceramic gingival color systems exceeded the clinical acceptability thresholds in the 3 zones examined. According to the ΔE00 formula, the gingival color of at least 33% of participants matched poorly with the expanded systems studied.

Fifteen ceramic gingival samples: A proposed gingival shade guide.

OBJECTIVE: (1) To put forward a set of valid pink ceramic samples for subjective gingival colour selection in the Caucasian population, and (2) to assess the quality of the shade matches provided by the selected pink samples. METHODS: The ceramic gingival shade samples (n = 133) were obtained by mixing pairs of basic colours from a single system. In each mixture, the proportions of the colours were altered in 10% increments, following the numerical order used by the manufacturers of the three colour systems under study (Heraceram, Vita VM9 and IPS Style). The CIELAB colour coordinates were recorded using spectrophotometry in three zones of healthy anterior gingiva (n = 360). The sample was randomly divided into two subsamples, each of which contained 180 participants. Subsample 1 was used to select the ceramic gingival samples that provided the best shade matches, using the k-means clustering method. Subsample 2 was used to assess the chromatic validity of the selected gingival samples, according to the coverage error. RESULTS: To identify the ceramic gingival samples that best represented participants' gingival colour, the minimum colour differences (ΔEab∗, ΔE00) between the cluster centroids and the 133 gingival samples were calculated. Fifteen gingival samples were selected: 8 from the Heraceram system, 4 from the VM9 system, and 3 from the IPS Style system. Coverage errors for the 15 gingival samples fell below the gingival clinical acceptability thresholds in the three gingival zones examined. CONCLUSIONS: The 15 ceramic gingival colour samples provide satisfactory coverage of the gingival colour space, with coverage errors below the ΔE00 clinical acceptability threshold of 2.9 units. These pink colour samples have the potential to provide good gingival shade matches in subjective colour selection. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Mixing basic ceramic colours is a viable method for generating a series of pink shades that can be used as a physical gingival shade guide. The resulting guide provides valid results (under the acceptability thresholds) for subjective selection gingival colour selection in clinical practice.

Exploring Digital Gingival Shade Matching in Students.

PURPOSE: To study the degree of accuracy in gingival colour matching of undergraduate students using a computer application. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-six undergraduate dental students were evaluated in gingival shade selection using an in-house developed computer application. Fifteen intraoral gingival photographs and 21 pink gingival colour porcelain samples were used. The environmental conditions were standardised, and no time limit was set for answering in the computer application. RESULTS: Fourteen gingival colour samples (66.6%) were not useful to represent the studied gingival shades. Not all natural gingival colours studied were represented within the 50.50% acceptability limits of the pink samples. There were no statistically significant differences between males and females in terms of "hit" percentages. The highest correlation coefficient (in absolute value) was for the L*-coordinate (the darker the gingiva in the picture, the higher the hit rate for choosing the "ideal" shade tab); however, none of the linear correlation coefficients were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Not all colours provided in the pink ceramic system were useful for subjective gingival selection. There were no statistically significant differences between male and female dental students in gingival colour perception. The L* coordinate was the only one that influenced the correct perception of gingival colour by dental students, and it does so more in women than in men.

Dental student, dentist, dental assistant, and layperson perception of pink gingival porcelain color.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: How pink gingival porcelain color is perceived by participants classified according to profession and sex is unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the degree of correlation between the ordering of color tabs by participants classified according to profession, years of dental work experience, and sex and the ideal chromatic order based on the color coordinate L∗ (lightness). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-one colored specimens made of Heraceram pink gingival porcelain were used. A group of 352 participants (118 men and 234 women) comprised of dental students (n=126), dentists (n=54), dental assistants (n=56), and laypersons (n=116) were enrolled. They were asked to order the specimens starting from the lightest to the darkest. The Kendall coefficients of concordance W and correlation T were used to determine whether the individuals in each experimental group rating the specimens were consistent and accurate. RESULTS: The degree of agreement between the ideal ordering and that carried out by the participants within the different professional categories was greater than 0.8 in all assessments. No statistically significant differences were found among the groups in relation to professional category, work experience, or sex (P>.05). The Kendall coefficients were higher in the ranking of the darker specimens for all groups of participants. CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant differences were found among dentists, dental assistants, dental students, and laypersons in the arrangement of pink porcelain specimens according to their lightness. In addition, in all groups, the darker gingival specimens were ordered significantly better according to their lightness than the lighter specimens.

Epidemiological Study on Burnout in Spanish Dentists: Underlying Psychological Factors.

The aim of this work is to study the personality factors and coping styles of Spanish dentists when facing burnout syndrome, through epidemiological work. An epidemiological study of 1928 Spanish dentists was undertaken through an online survey, which registered the age and gender, and three questionnaires: NEO-FFI (personality traits), Brief COPE (coping styles), and MBI-HSS (burnout questionnaire). A multivariate analysis and an explanatory binary logistic regression model were used to estimate the presence of burnout. Neuroticism turned out to be the strongest indicator (OR 1.10; IC 95% 1.09-1.14), while extraversion (OR 0.93; IC 95% 0.91-0.95) and agreeableness (OR 0.94; IC95% 0.92-0.98) showed an inverse relationship with the occurrence of burnout, as did age (OR 0.9; IC95% 0.96-0.99). Conscientiousness (OR 1.0; IC95% 1.00-1.06) had a direct relationship with the presence of burnout. An avoidant coping style was the only indicative coping style (OR 1.04 IC95% 1.02-1.06). Approximately 70% of the dentists scored high on one of the three dimensions of burnout. No differences were found in the degree of burnout according to gender. Certain personality factors (neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness), the avoidant coping style, and age are powerful indicators to attempt to forecast the presence of burnout syndrome in dentists.

Colour thresholds of the gingival chromatic space.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the thresholds of chromatic perception and clinical acceptability of gingival colour according to professional category and in accordance with the perceptibility/acceptability threshold of 50:50 (colour differences that can be perceived/accepted by 50 % of the observers). METHODS: A total of 21 different coloured samples made of pink gingiva Heraceram porcelain were used. Dentists (n = 54), dental assistants (n = 56), dental students (n = 126) and participants unrelated to dentistry (n = 116) were asked to identify pairs of samples that appeared identical. In addition, they were asked to indicate the pairs of samples whose colour they considered to be acceptable for use in a dental rehabilitation. A least squares regression was adjusted using an S-shaped curve of the equation y = exp (B0 + B1/x). The adjusted model was used to predict a colour difference value for an acceptability percentage of 50 %. RESULTS: The threshold value for the perception of colour changes in human gingiva varies from ΔEab* 2.3 ±â€¯0.38 units and CIEDE2000 (ΔE00) 1.5 ±â€¯0.28units (dental students) to ΔEab* 2.7 ±â€¯0.43 units and ΔE00 1.8 ±â€¯0.30 units (participants unrelated to dentistry). The threshold of gingival acceptability varies from ΔEab* 2.9 ±â€¯0.43 units and ΔE00 2.0 ±â€¯0.31 units (dental assistants) to ΔEab* 3.6 ±â€¯0.54 units and ΔE00 2.5 ±â€¯0.41 units (dental students). CONCLUSION: From the total number of samples, the average threshold of perception for the gingival chromatic space is 3.1 units for ΔEab* and 2.1 units for ΔE00. Moreover, the mean gingival acceptance threshold is 4.1 units for ΔEab* and 2.9 units for ΔE00. These thresholds are similar for all professional categories studied. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The determination of the perception and acceptability thresholds in the gingival chromatic space are of special relevance for designing the physical shade tabs used in gingival colour guides. The results from this work will aid in selecting optimal gingival colour for patients.

Proposal for a gingival shade guide based on in vivo spectrophotometric measurements.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to propose and assess a shade guide for pink gingival aesthetics using a Spanish population sample. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The L*, C*, h, a* and b* coordinates of 259 participants were measured using a spectrophotometer in 3 standardized points along the attached gingiva of the maxillary central incisors. A hierarchical clustering analysis was applied to obtain separate solutions regarding the number of shade tabs. For each of the solutions obtained, color differences (ΔE*) were calculated using the CIELab and CIEDE2000 formulas, and the proposed shade guide was selected considering (1) the color differences between tabs and (2) the coverage error of each of the solutions. RESULTS: The proposed shade guide consisted of 8 gingival shade tabs and achieved CIELab and CIEDE2000 coverage errors of less than the respective 50:50% acceptability thresholds (ΔE*=4.6 units and ΔE00=4.1). The coordinates for the various gingival shade tabs were as follows: Tab 1: L*43.3, a*21.9, b*12.3 (1.6); Tab 2: L*42.9, a*34.1, b*19.1; Tab 3: L*46.5, a*25.8, b*10.9; Tab 4: L*46.5, a*27.3, b*15.1; Tab 5: L*49.6, a*23.5, b*16.8; Tab 6: L*51.5, a*19.7, b*13.6; Tab 7: L*55.9, a*22.0, b* 15.0; and Tab 8: L*56.0, a*19.9, b*18.8. CONCLUSION: The CIELab and CIEDE2000 coverage errors for the 8 shade tabs of the proposed gingival shade guide were significantly lower than those of other guides. Therefore, despite the limitations of this study, the proposed guide is more appropriate for matching gingival shade in the Spanish general population.

Comparison of two color-difference formulas using the Bland-Altman approach based on gingiva color space.

The objectives of this study were to determine the relationship between the results provided by the classical CIELab (ΔEab*) and the CIEDE2000 (ΔE00) formulas and the gingival color space using the Bland and Altman limits of agreement, to use this relationship to establish the equivalences between the gingival color thresholds of perceptibility of both formulas, and to evaluate whether the relationship between ΔEab* and ΔE00 is modified depending on the axis in which the changes occur. The means of the L*, a*, and b* coordinates of the 21 gingiva porcelain samples (Heraceram, Heraeus Kulzer Mitsui Chemical Groups) were used and the differences in color were calculated in 210 pairs of samples using the CIELab (ΔE*ab) and CIEDE2000 (ΔE00) color-difference formulas. The results obtained with these formulas were compared and the limits of agreement after a logarithmic transformation of the data were obtained. The relationship between both formulas was ln ΔE00 = - 0.22 + ln ΔEab*. The results obtained with the CIELab formula were between 1.01 (95% confidence interval 0.98-1.03) and 1.54 (95% confidence interval 1.52-1.59) times higher than those obtained with the CIEDE200 formula. In the gingiva color space, the scale factor between the CIEDE2000 and CIELab values changes from 0.63 to 1.02, such that providing an accurate scale factor between both values proves difficult. The pairs with the highest ratio were those where the difference in color was mainly due to changes in lightness, whereas the pairs with the smallest ratio were those where the difference in color was mainly due to changes in the blue-yellow or green-red axes.

Clinical study on natural gingival color.

The aims of the study were: to describe the gingival color surrounding the upper incisors in three sites in the keratinized gingiva, analyzing the effect of possible factors which modulate (socio-demographic and behavioral) intersubject variability; to study whether the gingiva color is the same in all three locations and to describe intrasubject color differences in the keratinized gingiva band. Using the CIELAB color system, three reference areas (free gingival margin, keratinized gingival body, and birth or upper part of the keratinized gingiva) were studied in 259 individuals, as well as the related socio-demographic factors, oral habits and the chronic intake of medication. Shadepilot™ spectrophotometer was used. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was performed. There are statistically significant differences between males and females for coordinates L* and a* in the middle and free gingival margin. For the b* coordinate, there are differences between males and females in the three locations studied (p < 0.05). The minimum and maximum coordinates in which the CIELAB natural gingival space is delimited are L* minima 28.3, L* maximum 65.4, a* minimum 11.1, a* maximum 37.2, b* minimum 6.9, and b* maximum 25.2*. Age, smoking, and the chronic intake of medication had no significant effect on gum color. There are perceptible color differences within the keratinized gingiva band. These chromatic differences must be taken into account if the prosthetic characterization of gingival tissue is to be considered acceptable. There are significant differences between the color coordinates of the three sites studied in the keratinized gingiva of men and women.

Comparison of two color-difference formulas using the Bland-Altman approach based on natural tooth color space.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Several formulas to measure color differences have been proposed to improve the correlation between color measurements and visual perception. Despite the progress obtained, equating between formulas is complex, rendering the exchange of information in scientific papers difficult. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the results provided by classic CIELab (ΔEab∗) and the CIEDE2000 (ΔE00) formulas in the natural tooth color space using the Bland and Altman limits of agreement, to use this relationship to establish the equivalences between the tooth color thresholds of acceptability and perceptibility of both formulas, and to evaluate whether the relationship between ΔEab∗ and ΔE00 is modified depending on the axis on which the changes occur. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The L∗, a∗, and b∗ means coordinates in the 26 shade tabs of the Toothguide 3D Master were used, and color differences were calculated in 325 pairs of shade tabs using the CIELab (ΔE∗ab) and CIEDE2000 (ΔE00) color difference formulas. The results obtained with these formulas were compared, and the limits of agreement after a logarithmic transformation of the data were obtained. RESULTS: The linear relationship between both formulas was ΔE00 =0.66ΔE∗ab. The results obtained with the CIELab formula were between 1.15 (95% confidence interval 1.11 to 1.18) and 2.09 (95% confidence interval 2.03 to 2.15) times higher than those obtained with the CIEDE2000 formula. CONCLUSIONS: In the natural tooth color space, the scale factor between CIEDE2000 and CIELab values changes from 0.46 to 0.90, such that providing an accurate scale factor between both values is difficult. Furthermore, the ΔE00/ΔE∗ab ratio increases with the increase in ΔL∗ and the decrease in Δb∗. The pairs for which the ratio is highest are those in which the difference in color is mainly due to changes in lightness, whereas the pairs for which the ratio is the smallest are those in which the difference in color is mainly due to changes on the blue-yellow axis.

Comparison of the CIELab and CIEDE2000 color difference formulas.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Many color specification systems and color differences have been proposed to improve the correlation between color measurement and visual perception. Although color differences can be quantified using either the CIELab formula (ΔE*(ab)) or the recently introduced CIEDE2000 formula (ΔE00), which captures the perceived color difference better is unknown. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the CIELab and CIEDE2000 formulas to determine which best reflects the difference in color perception and whether color perception differs by sex. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty participants grouped 18 dental resin disks (color range: from 73.6 to 87.5 for L*; from -1.6 to 3.4 for a*; from 18.1 to 36.6 for b*), the only requirement being that each group was formed of disks with chromatically indistinguishable colors. Each participant was free to choose the number and composition of the groups. With the results obtained, a dissimilarity matrix was generated, and nonmetric multidimensional scaling (MDS) was applied to it to obtain the coordinates of the disks within a Euclidean space. RESULTS: The linear correlation coefficient between the interpoint distances of the MDS configuration (MDS_total sample) and the color differences with the CIELab formula (ΔE*(ab)) was 0.176 (P=.029), whereas with the CIEDE2000 formula (ΔE00) it was 0.289 (P<.001). For the configuration obtained in the women's group (MDS_w), the correlation between the interpoint distances and the CIELab color differences was 0.230 (P=.004), and the CIEDE2000 color difference was 0.328 (P<.001). For the configuration obtained in the men's group (MDS_m), the color differences calculated with both formulas reflected the perceived differences more poorly. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, the CIEDE2000 formula reflected the color differences perceived by the human eye better than the CIELab formula (ΔE*ab). In addition, women were confirmed to be more sensitive than men to color differences.

Importancia del contacto precoz piel con piel en el recién nacido sano durante el trabajo de parto / Importance of early skin to skin contact with the newborn during labour

Objetivo: analizar las consecuencias que tiene el contactoprecoz piel con piel durante el proceso de parto, tanto parala madre como para el recién nacido sano.Metodología: se realizó una revisión bibliográfica en lasbases de datos Cochrane Library Plus, Medline a través desu acceso Pubmed, Cinahl, Doaj, Cuiden, Cuidatge, Ibecs yLilacs, para el período de estudio comprendido entre 1999y 2009. Se utilizaron operadores booleanos para las estrategiasde búsqueda.Resultados: los beneficios del contacto precoz piel con pielestán ampliamente documentados en la literatura científica.El contacto precoz favorece el vínculo afectivo, aumenta laautoestima materna, disminuye la ansiedad, mejora los sentimientosde aceptación del nuevo rol y la satisfacción duranteel proceso de parto. Sobre la lactancia materna contribuyea que la primera toma sea efectiva y en consecuencia aumentesu prevalencia, favoreciendo que ésta se prolongue durantemás tiempo.Conclusiones: resultan incongruentes las prácticas proporcionadasen la mayoría de los hospitales españoles que separansistemáticamente el recién nacido sano de su madre justodespués del expulsivo para realizar actividades como pesarle,medirle, identificarle, etc. Somos los profesionales sanitarioslos responsables de este cambio en las rutinas de asistenciapara ofrecer cuidados basados en la evidencia científica (AU)

Objective: to analyse the consequences of skin-to-skin contactduring the labour process both for the mother and forthe healthy newborn.Methodology: a bibliographic review was performed in theCochrane Library Plus, Medline databases by means of theirPubmed, Cinahl, Doaj, Cuiden, cuidatge, Ibecs and Lilacs access,for the study period between 1999 and 2009. Booleanoperators were used for search strategies.Results: the benefits of early skin to skin contact are extensivelydocumented in the scientific literature. Early contactfavours affective bonding, increases the mother’s selfesteem,decreases anxiety, and improves feelings ofacceptance of the new role and satisfaction during labour.It also contributes to an effective first breastfeeding and thereforeincreases its prevalence, extending its use over a longerperiod of time.Conclusions: the practices conducted by the majority ofSpanish hospitals that systematically separate healthy newbornbabies from their mothers right after birth in order toweigh, measure, identify them, etc., are incongruent. Wehealth care professionals are responsible for making a changein care routines in order to offer scientific evidence-basedcare (AU)

La sexualidad femenina durante el climaterio. Representaciones, símbolos y estereotipos / Female sexuality during menopause. Representations, symbols and stereotypes

Comprender el significado que tiene la sexualidad en el climateriopara las mujeres de la sociedad actual es necesariopara ofertar una educación sanitaria acorde a sus necesidades.Con ese propósito se realizó una revisión bibliográfica cuyosobjetivos concretos fueron identificar las características fisiológicasy sociales del climaterio y de la sexualidad y analizarla influencia de las representaciones culturales en la vivenciade la sexualidad femenina en esa etapa del desarrollo.Metodología: se eligieron Cuiden, SciELO-España y Enfispocomo principales bases de datos, realizando una revisiónhistórica de los estudios publicados en los últimos quinceaños (1994 hasta 2009). Del ámbito internacional se revisaronlos estudios más recientes del tema en cuestión de lasbases de datos Cochrane Plus, Doaj, Cinahl y Medline (2007hasta 2009).Resultados: son frecuentes los síntomas vasomotores, eldolor osteoarticular, la depresión, la ansiedad y la dispareunia.La presencia, intensidad y vivencia de los mismos tieneinfluencia cultural. Las modificaciones anatomofisiológicas delclimaterio producen un cambio en el patrón sexual que estáinfluenciado por los esquemas culturales de cada mujer, desembocandoen algunos casos en problemas de salud importantes.La demanda sanitaria de la población femenina durante elclimaterio ha sufrido un importante incremento en los últimosaños, relacionado con el desconocimiento que refierenlas mujeres sobre este período. Son muy habituales los estereotiposacerca de la sexualidad que conducen a prácticaspoco saludables, ansiedad y miedo. La educación sanitariadisminuye la percepción de los problemas percibidospor la mujer durante el climaterio.Conclusiones: una buena autoestima y una correcta educaciónsanitaria en esta etapa permitirán a la mujer cuidar suentorno afectivo y disfrutar de su sexualidad de una maneraglobal (AU)

In order to offer women in today’s society health educationthat is in tune with their needs it is necessary to understandthe meaning of sexuality during menopause. With this objectivein mind, a bibliographic review was performed thataimed specifically to identify the physiological and socialcharacteristics of menopause and sexuality and to analyse theinfluence of cultural representations on the female experienceof sexuality during that life phase.Methodology: Cuiden, SciELO-España and Enfispo wereselected as the primary databases, and a historic review ofstudies published within the last fifteen years (1994 to 2009)was conducted. The most recent international studies onthe topic (2007 to 2009), extracted from the Cochrane Plus,Doaj, Cinahl and Medline databases, were also reviewed.Results: vasomotor symptoms, bone and joint pain, depression,anxiety and dyspareunia are the most frequentsymptoms. The presence, intensity and subjective experienceof these symptoms are culturally influenced. The anatomical-physiological changes that take place during menopauseproduce a change in the sexuality pattern that isinfluenced by each woman’s cultural schemes, sometimesleading to important health problems.Health care demand on the part of the female population duringmenopause has increased significantly in the past fewyears, as a result of the lack of information they have onthis stage of life and the physical changes it entails. Sexualitystereotypes that lead to unhealthy practices, anxiety andfear are very frequent. Health education decreases the perceptionof the problems perceived by women undergoing menopause (AU)