Epidemiological Study to Assess the Menopausal Problems during Menopausal Transition in Middle Age Women of Vadodara, Gujarat, India

Abstract

Objective: The study was designed to determine the prevalence of menopausal symptoms during menopausal transition in middle age (30-60 years) women in Vadodara (N=1000). Method: They were interviewed by means of standard Menopause Rating Scale questionnaire (MRS) to report on the menopausal symptoms which were divided into somatic, psychological and urog. A predesigned questionnaire was used to assess their knowledge associated with menopause along with self-reported health profile. Results: The mean age of the study population was 42 + 5.1; where mean age of premenopausal group was 40.07 + 3.79, peri menopausal group was 41.72 + 4.28 and post-menopausal group was 46.4 + 5.32. The women reported pain in hands or legs as the most prevalent symptom (73.6%), followed by anxiety (67.4%), physical and mental exhaustion (66.8%). Other symptoms like dryness of vagina (48.5%), heart discomfort (45%), mood swings (35.5%) and irritability (32.8%) were reported by nearly half of the population. Severity of symptoms were observed for anxiety (2.7%), heart discomfort (2.3%), sleep disturbances (2.3%), bladder problems (2.1%). The mean total MRS was found to be rising up during transition from premenopause (4.60 + 3.07) to perimenopause (6.53 + 3.93) and showed a decline during transition from perimenopause to postmenopause (5.78 + 3.03). Amongst the three subscales of MRS, the mean of the Psychological domain (2.59 + 1.91) was higher followed by somatic symptoms (2.03 + 1.54) and least by the urogenital symptoms (0.92 + 0.99). A similar trend was observed during all stages of reproductive life, i.e. premenopausal, perimenopausal or postmenopausal (p