AWARENESS OF MENOPAUSE AND STRATEGIES TO COPE WITH MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS OF THE WOMEN AGED BETWEEN 40 AND 65 WHO CONSULTED TO A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the awareness of menopause and strategıes to cope wıth menopausal symptoms of the women aged between 40 and 65 who consulted to a tertiary care hospital and among those who were postmenopausal, to measure the severity of symptoms and to determine the strategies and choice of resources to cope with menopausal symptoms. From a total of 292 women 272 (93%) were available to participate in the study. A questionnaire and the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) was during face-to-face interviews. The mean age was 50.1±6.5 years. The mean total MRS score of non-menopausal women was 16.6±8.9. The mean scores: 6.2±3.5 for somatic subscale, 6.5±3.7 for psychological subscale and 3.8±2.7 for urogenital subscale. The most common menopausal symptom was physical and mental exhaustion (84.0%). Severe menopausal symptoms were identified in 79 (46.7%) women completing the MRS scale. The women with an average monthly income of 2000 TL or less and chronic illness had a higher frequency of severe menopausal symptoms. The most commonly preferred coping strategy was visit to a medical doctor or a healthcare center (n=103, 60.9%). In order to raise awareness about menopause, structured education programs should be prepared and implemented.