A Cross-Sectional Study to Determine Effect of Menopause on Quality of Life and Pain in Women Aged 40-60 Years

Abstract

Background: Menopause means the permanent cessation of menstruation at the end of reproductive life dueto loss of ovarian follicular activity. Menopause has a profound impact on a woman’s physical and mentalhealth as a whole. Quality of life and pain are measured to study and compare the effect of menopause onthem.Objective: The aim of this study was to compare quality of life and pain among pre-, peri- and postmenopausalwomen and find the effect of menopause on the above-mentioned factors.Methodology: This cross-sectional study included 258 women between the age group of 40-60 years whowere classified according to their menstrual status into premenopause, perimenopause and postmenopause.They were selected on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria. All the participants agreed to participatein the study. Outcome measures SF-20, VAS was measured. Statistical analysis of the data was performedusing SPSS version 20 through application of descriptive statistics, t-test and multivariate analysis.Result: The data measure of outcome variables of the premenopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausalgroups was compared using descriptive statistics, multivariate analysis and t-test. The components of SF-20which were significantly reduced for postmenopausal women as compared to premenopausal were physicalfunctioning (p=0.000), role functioning (p= <0.00001), social functioning (p= <0.00001), mental health (p=0.0000), health perception (<0.00001). The component of pain was significantly increased (p = 0.0158) inpostmenopausal women compared to premenopausal women.Conclusion: Thus, we can conclude there is significant deterioration in components of quality of life andpain in postmenopausal women as compared to premenopausal women even after controlling for age. Thesefindings will help to add valuable input to current research on menopause.