Women's experiences in the transition to menopause: a qualitative research (original) (raw)
Related papers
Psychological experiences of women regarding menopause
Introduction: Menopause is one of the stages of life for women that cause a wide variety of symptoms, effects, and sometimes limitations. Therefore this study aims to describe the psychological symptoms of postmenopausal women. Method: This is a qualitative study using phenomenological method on postmenopausal women in the city of Isfahan. The sampling was at first carried out using simple sampling and later using snowball sampling method. The data gathering tool as interviews carried out in the office of obstetricians and gynecologists. Data were classified using colaizzi's seven stage data analysis method. Results: Various psychological symptoms were reported in the interviews which can be summarized as irritability, aggression, fatigue, feelings of helplessness, and uselessness. Conclusion: During the interviews, postmenopausal women mentioned a variety of psychological symptoms that can cause limitations and hardships and require suitable support and follow-up.
Background: The menopause is a time in a woman's life when it is recognized that biological and social changes can influence upon their quality of life. While most women traverse the menopausal transition (MT) with little difficulty, others may undergo significant stress. Purpose: The purpose of this review was to assess the literature concerning the menopausal symptoms experienced by women in various countries of the world. Review Methods: A database search was conducted in CINAHL, Pub Med, Google Scholar, and Medline for the period of 2007-2013 using specific term "menopause", "perimenopause", "menopause symptoms", "midlife and quality of life". A total of 15 studies were identified which met the inclusion criteria. Results: The results of the 15 studies reveals that the burden of menopausal symptoms on the life of midlife women in different parts of the world. From this review, it is evident that there is great diversity in symptom frequencies across the cultures and ways of coping adopted by these women. Conclusion: With appropriate counseling, health information and an understanding of the menopause and its dimensions, menopause can become a time of beginning, rather than an end.
Women’s Experiences on Menopause: A Phenomenological Study
OUSL Journal, 2017
Menopause is the permanent termination of menstruation resulting specific symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, sleep disturbances, forgetfulness, vaginal dryness and weight gain. Women suffer from these symptoms because such symptoms affect their day-today life and finally lead to decrease in the quality of life. Therefore, it is pivotally important to study the experience of women during menopause. The aim of this study is to explore women's experiences of menopause. Purposively selected 20 women who experienced menopause were recruited for this qualitative phenomenological study at the Gynecological Section of the District General Hospital, Matale. Data was collected by semi-structured interviews conducted during a period of one month and data analysis was done using Colalizzi's analysis method. Four (04) themes emerged from the findings, which are: unbearable discomfort in the body, emotional instability and memory problems, problematic issues in family relationships, and increased expenditure for the treatments. Hot flashes, sleep disturbances, joint pain, vaginal dryness and weight gain were the physical experiences. Further, there were psychological experiences of menopause such as difficulties in making decisions, forgetfulness, fits of anger, mood swings and frustration. Moreover, women's menopausal experiences also affected their family life and economy. Women noted that
Women's experience and attitudes towards menopause and health: descriptive research
Obzornik zdravstvene nege, 2016
Introduction: The physiological changes in hormonal levels occurring during perimenopause and postmenopause may affect the health of women. The purpose of the research was to explore the views and attitudes of women of this stage towards menopause, health, healthy lifestyle and some aspects of information regarding menopause. Methods: The study was based on a quantitative and qualitative approach. A semi-structured questionnaire (Cronbach α = 0.813) was used as a research instrument. The open question was interpreted by a qualitative method. A random systematic sample consisted of one hundred female patients, aged 45 to 60 years, attending a private healthcare institution. The survey was conducted in October 2014. The data collected were processed with the software Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 20.0. Results: The self-reported health status of the respondents was good (57.3 %) or very good (22.3 %). The most commonly cited symptoms included hot flushes and night sweats (= 2.73), sleep problems (= 2.8), and mental and physical exhaustion (= 2.70). Information from nurses was never sought by 57.6 % and occasionally by 9.8 % of the respondents, although the interviewees expressed the need for more comprehensive information on the subject. The identified subcategories include a positive attitude and self-confidence, support of the environment, consumer health information and healthy lifestyle. Discussion and conclusion: The research participants have a positive attitude to health, they are aware that there is much they can do to maintain and improve their health. As they also expressed the need to be better informed, the scope of nurses' work in referential outpatient clinics may be extended to menopausal counselling. However, more research on this topic needs to be undertaken. IZVLEČEK Uvod: Obdobje perimenopavze in pomenopavze vpliva na zdravje žensk. Namen raziskave je bil raziskati stališča in odnos žensk do tega obdobja, do zdravja in do zdravega življenjskega sloga ter nekatere vidike informiranosti. Metode: Raziskava temelji na kvantitativnem in kvalitativnem pristopu. Uporabljen je bil delno strukturirani vprašalnik (Cronbach α = 0,813). Opisno vprašanje je bilo interpretirano s kvalitativno metodo. Uporabljen je bil slučajnostni sistematični vzorec stotih pacientk zasebne zdravstvene ustanove, vključitveni kriterij je bil starost od 45 do 60 let. Anketiranje je bilo izvedeno oktobra 2014. Podatki so bili obdelani s programskim orodjem Microsoft Excel in SPSS verzija 20.0. Rezultati: Anketiranke ocenjujejo svoje zdravje kot dobro (57,3 %) oziroma zelo dobro (22,3 %). Največ težav imajo z vročinskimi oblivi in navali znojenja (= 2,73), s spanjem (= 2,8) ter s psihično in fizično izčrpanostjo (= 2,70). Pri medicinski sestri informacij nikoli ni iskalo 57,6 % vprašanih in nobena od njih pogosto, občasno pa le 9,8 % vprašanih, kljub temu da so anketiranke izpostavile problem premajhne informiranosti. Prepoznane podkategorije so pozitivna naravnanost in samozaupanje, podpora okolice, informiranost in zdrav življenjski slog. Diskusija in zaključek: Anketiranke imajo pozitiven odnos do zdravja, zavedajo se, da za svoje zdravje lahko veliko storijo same. Izražena je potreba po večji informiranosti, zato je pomembno, da se aktivnosti diplomirane medicinske sestre v referenčni ambulanti razširijo tudi na področje svetovanja glede menopavze. Potrebne so nadaljnje raziskave na tem področju.
Women's Experiences about Menopause and Related Factors
Iranian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2017
Introduction: Women’s quality of life following menopause is influenced not only by physical and psychosocial factors, but also by menopause-related concerns, their feelings and attitude and adjustment to menopause. The aim of the present study was to assess women’s experiences after menopause and its related factors. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in 2016 on 350 menopausal women referred to 12 health centers affiliated to Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Subjects were recruited using a two-stage sampling method, and data were collected through interview using two questionnaires, including a demographic questionnaire and a valid and reliable questionnaire, the “assessment of women’s experiences in after menopause”. Data was analyzed using Pearson and spearman correlation coefficient, one way ANOVA and multiple linear regression statistical methods. Results: Assessment of women’s experiences in after menopause revealed a total score of 34.9±16.9 percent (Mean±SD). Scores for the domains of women’s experiences in menopause were 42.8±19.3% for physical complications, 34.8±26.4% for negative attitudes, 34.1±27.5% negative feelings, 32.7±19.6% for concerns, 33.2±28.2% for adjustment, and 29.5±24.3% for psychological complications. Duration of menopause was the only predicting factor for total score of women’s experiences in menopause, i.e., with addition of one year to duration of menopause, the total score decreased by 1 point. Conclusion: Duration of menopause was the only predicting factor for the total score of women’s experiences. Future policies and programs for improving quality of life of women after menopause should concentrate on decreasing menopause related physical complications, negative attitudes and feelings, concerns and psychological complications.
Menopause is a natural stage of aging: a qualitative study
BMC Women's Health
Background Menopause is a biopsychosocial phenomenon encompassing the transition in a woman’s life from being fertile to infertile. Although menopause may result in extremely unpleasant physical symptoms there is evidence of a low rate of reported menopausal symptoms amongst women in Asian cultures. Women’s experiences, views, and responses to menopause which influences women’s daily life and well-being, may vary between different societies and cultures. This study aimed to explore and describe menopausal experiences among women in Sri Lanka. Methods A qualitative exploratory research was conducted among postmenopausal women of 46–55 years of age in the western province of Sri Lanka. Individual interviews with a purposive sample of 20 women were conducted, and data analysis was done using manifest and latent content analysis. Results The results consist of an overall theme, “Menopause is a natural stage of aging” and three categories “Entering a new stage”, “Managing menopause” and ...
Background: The menopause is a time in a woman's life when it is recognized that biological and social changes can influence upon their quality of life. While most women traverse the menopausal transition (MT) with little difficulty, others may undergo significant stress. Purpose: The purpose of this review was to assess the literature concerning the menopausal symptoms experienced by women in various countries of the world. Review Methods: A database search was conducted in CINAHL, Pub Med, Google Scholar, and Medline for the period of 2007-2013 using specific term "menopause", "perimenopause", "menopause symptoms", "midlife and quality of life". A total of 15 studies were identified which met the inclusion criteria. Results: The results of the 15 studies reveals that the burden of menopausal symptoms on the life of midlife women in different parts of the world. From this review, it is evident that there is great diversity in symptom freq...
Perceived Concerns of Azeri Menopausal Women in Iran
Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, 2014
Background: Menopause is a complex biological phenomenon which is affected by socio-cultural and physiological factors. These factors may cause different experiences and concerns for menopausal women from different countries and even among women of diverse ethnic groups living in the same country. The signs and symptoms of menopause are exacerbated by the negative attitude of menopausal women and their deep concerns. Objectives: We aimed to explore self-experienced concerns of Iranian menopausal women residing in Tabriz. Materials and Methods: Phenomenological approach was used for analyzing the participants' experiences and perceptions about menopause. Data were collected through 18 semi-structured in-depth interviews; carried out from February to July 2012. Participants were menopausal women aged between 46-57 years who experienced menopause no more than 4 years before the interview. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Constant comparative analysis of the data was conducted using MAXQDA 10. Results: Participants' concerns were classified into 4 main themes, including: inability, aging, isolation, and healthiness. Conclusions: Understanding these concerns might contribute to the enrichment of the existing literature by providing evidences from a different culture, assisting to design effective supportive strategies, planning training programs and appropriate infrastructures for women to improve their quality of life during the menopausal period.
I should live and finish it": A qualitative inquiry into Turkish women's menopause experience
BMC Family Practice, 2009
Background While bio-medically, menopause could be treated as an illness, from a psychosocial and cultural perspective it could be seen as a "natural" process without requiring medication unless severe symptoms are present. Our objective is to explore the perceptions of Turkish women regarding menopause and Hormone Therapy (HT) to provide health care workers with an insight into the needs and expectations of postmenopausal women. Methods A qualitative inquiry through semi-structured, in-depth interviews was used to explore the study questions. We used a purposive sampling and included an equal number of participants who complained about the climacteric symptoms and those who visited the outpatient department for a problem other than climacteric symptoms but when asked declared that they had been experiencing climacteric symptoms. The interview questions focused on two areas; 1) knowledge, experiences, attitudes and beliefs about menopause and; 2) menopause-related experiences and ways to cope with menopause and perception of HT. Results Most of the participants defined menopause as a natural transition process that one should go through. Cleanliness, maturity, comfort of not having a period and positive changes in health behaviour were the concepts positively attributed to menopause, whereas hot flushes, getting old and difficulties in relationships were the negatives. Osteoporosis was an important concern for most of the participants. To deal with the symptoms, the non-pharmacological options were mostly favoured. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first qualitative study which focuses on Turkish women's menopausal experiences. Menopause was thought to be a natural process which was characterised by positive and negative features. Understanding these features and their implications in these women's lives may assist healthcare workers in helping their clients with menopause.