A Cross Sectional Study for Assessment of Menopausal Symptoms and Coping Strategies among the Women of 40-60 Years Age Group Attending Outpatient Clinic of Gynaecology

Abstract

Background: Menopause is one of the most significant events in a woman's life and brings in a number of physiological changes that affect the life of a woman permanently and can be influenced by various socio-demographic factors and coping activities. Objectives: To determine the commonly reported menopausal symptoms among women of 40 to 60 years and to correlate identified menopausal problems with coping strategies found in participants. Methods: By Modified Menopause Rating Scale [MRS] questionnaire, 150 menopausal women aged 40-60 years were interview to document of 12 symptoms (using divided into somatic, psychological and urogenital domain) commonly associated with menopause The women were asked whether or not they had experienced the 12 menopausal symptoms shown in the MRS in the previous one month (30 days) and grading was made to "present" or "absent" of symptoms. Results: Among those women studied, 34 (22.7%) were premenopausal, 59 (39.3%) perimenopausal and 59 (38.0%) postmenopausal and the mean age of menopause was 49.8 years (±4.9) range 43 - 57 years. The most prevalent symptoms reported were joint and muscular discomfort (70.6%); physical and mental exhaustion (61.3%); and sleeping problems (59.3%). Followed by symptoms of anxiety (48.6%); irritability (45.3%) hot flushes and sweating (38.6; dryness of vagina (37.9%); depressive mood (38.0%). Other complaints noted were incontinence/Frequency of urine (27.3 and heart discomfort (23.3%). Perimenopausal women (47.2%) experienced higher prevalence of somatic and psychological symptoms compared to premenopausal (n = 15.6) and postmenopausal (37.2%) women. However urogenital symptoms found more in postmenopausal group of women. There is a strong significant favourable association between the menopausal symptoms and coping strategies like exercise, yoga adopted by the menopausal women. Conclusion: Symptoms have variable onset in relation to menopause. Some women experience symptoms earlier during perimenopause while some experience them at a later time. The application of various coping methods, including the establishment of social support networks, is warranted to enhance postmenopausal women's behaviors in different aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]