Title: Health status of Postmenopausal women
Authors: Dr Sangeeta Ramteke, Dr Dipeeka Dharmale, Dr Medha Davile, Dr Pravina Joshi, Dr Surangana Agrawal, Dr Archana Kumari
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v4i6.14
Aims and objectives: 1. To study age at menopause 2. To study the health status of postmenopausal women. Study Design: The study was a cross sectional study conducted in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at a tertiary care hospital. Materials and methods: The study was approved by the Institutional ethical committee. All menopausal women attending the gynaecology outpatient departments of obstetrics and gynaecology Division of our institute were enrolled for the study as per the criteria given. Those patients admitted in ward and meeting the study criteria were also included if they showed willingness to be enrolled in the study. Informed consent was taken from all women before enrolling them for the study. The women who attained menopause by surgical or medical methods were excluded from the study. Results: The mean age of women participating in the study was 52.7 years. The analysis of age of onset of menopause showed that the maximum cases of menopause occurred between age group of 46-50 years. The mean age of menopause was 47.56 ± 2.27 SD. The minimum and maximum age at menopause was 39 and 52 years respectively. Out of the studied subjects 78% were married, 21 % were widowed and 1 woman was divorcee. Maximum cases had done their education till higher secondary school i.e 35% and 14% were illiterate and no one was post graduate. Hot flushes were the most common among vasomotor symptom which were seen in 68% subjects. Night sweats were seen in 47% subjects. Among psychosomatic problems sexual problems, physical exhaustion and sleep disturbances were commonest problems seen in 86%, 81% and 68% respectively. Among urinary problems dysuria (32%), urgency (04%) and incontinence (27%) were commonly seen in postmenopausal women. The most common sexual problem in postmenopausal woman was decreased interest in sexual activity which was seen in 87% women. The common medical problems in the studied women were joint pains and muscular pains, vision problems, dental problems, hypertension and diabetes. 78% of the women were not doing any kind of exercise before or after menopause. Maximum women who were sexually active were amongst the group which was doing routine exercise (6 out of seven). The most common psychomotor symptoms seen in exercise group were hot flushes, night sweats and irritability. Overall attitude of women towards menopause was negative (66%). Analysis of women further revealed that hot flushes and depressed mood were more common in women with age at menopause between 46-50 years. Women having diabetes and pre diabetes were 7% and 16% respectively while 32% patients were hypertensive. 28% had raised serum total cholesterol and among those 22% had raised LDL cholesterol. 14% had raised triglyceride level. 15% of the patients had abnormal USG findings related to female reproductive or genital tract. Bone mineral study revealed that 84% cases were osteoporotic and 16% were osteopenic. PAP smear examination revealed that 17% had inflammatory changes. Candida infection was most common and it was found in 9% study subjects. 83% had normal PAP report. 21% patients had signs suggestive of urinary tract infection. Conclusion: The menopause has a adverse bearing on psychosexual well-being of the women. The proper management of the symptoms caused by menopause and its associated comorbidities may reduce the negative impact it has on the psychology of women. Physical activity, routine physical checkup and investigations, dietary counseling and treatment accordingly may improve the symptoms of menopause, thereby improving quality of life. Keywords: Menopause, Health status, psychosexual impact, quality of life.
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