THE INFLUENCE OF MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND HEALTHCARE SEEKING BEHAVIOR IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN
Dr. Divya Gaur*, Dr. Arpita Joshi, Dr. Latika Sahu
ABSTRACT
Background: Menopause is an inevitable reproductive phase when permanent cessation of mensuration occurs following loss of ovarian activity. Menopause causes changes including vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats), anxiety, depression, decreased libido, vaginal dryness and also attitude towards loss of fertility may impair a woman’s quality of life. Present study was aimed to study impact of menopausal symptoms on quality of life and health care seeking behavior in postmenopausal women. Material and Methods: Present study was prospective, cross-sectional study, conducted in Postmenopausal women age of group 44 to 64, with at least 1 year of amenorrhea, attained natural menopause. Results: In present study, we evaluated 433 postmenopausal women. Majority of women belong to 50-54 years of age (34.4 %). Mean age group study population was 53.02±5.66 years. Majority study population attained their menarche between 12-14 years (73 %), attained menopause between 41-50 years (73.9 %), had more than 5 years since menopause (50.35 %). The prevalence of postmenopausal symptoms was found to be 71.4% in the present study. In this study most common symptoms were Physical (68.4 %) followed by sexual (35.8 %), vasomotor (12.2 %) & psychosocial (10.6 %). In this study most common symptom, physical symptoms which seen in 71.1%, 62.1%,72.9% were in less than 2 years, 2 to 5 years and more than 5 years of duration of menopause respectively. Vasomotor symptoms which seen in 23.7%,12.4%,10.1% were seen in less than 2 years, 2 to 5 years and more than 5 years of duration of menopause respectively. Acceptance appeared to be most utilized coping mechanism (19.2 %). Conclusion: Women were found aware of menopause while women were unaware of menopausal symptoms and its consequence. However, women were accepting menopausal symptom as natural age-related changes.
Keywords: Postmenopausal period, menopause, hot flashes, coping behaviors.
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