Determination of the Quality of Life During Menopausal Stages

Objective: To determine the quality of life and factors influencing it during menopausal (pre/pei/postmenopausal) stages, and bring a quality of life scale specific to menopausal stages into the Turkish literature.

Methods: The sample size of research consists of 202 (for 29 item scale: 29.7=203- one women droped out ) women between 45-59 years old who are in premenopausal, menopausal or postmenopausal stages (not in surgical menopause, on hormone therapy currently or within the last 6 months ) Research was performed descriptively and methodologically. Data collection was based on Kupperman Index (KI), The Menopause Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL) and Participant Data Sheet.

Results: With age, QOLwas impaired in vasomotor and physical domains and KI average score increased, showing that both menopausal symptom's frequency and intensity rised proportionally with age. It was found that QOL deteriorated in psychosocial and sexual domains among the non-married and married samples respectively. Also, in cases with lower educational levels, QOLwas impaired in all 4 domains of MENQOL (vasomotor, psychosocial, physical and sexual) and KI average score was increased. Quality of life was declined in all domains of MENQOL and KI mean points were increased among women with chronic diseases. Five and more years after the menopause QOLwas impaired in psychosocial, physical and sexual domains, and KI mean points increased with the number of years after the menopause. Multiparous women (P≥4) had worse quality of life scores in sexual domain and + increased KI average scores. Consequently, it was found that menopausal symptom's frequency and intensity were rised.

Conclusions: The quality of life scores were negatively influenced by advanced age, lower educational level, number of years after the menopause (≥5) and existence of present chronic disease. Quality of life in psychosocial domain in non-married cases and sexual domain in married cases was decreased.