Prevalence and Severity of Menopausal Symptoms and Related Factors Among Women 40-60 Years in Kashan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Menopause is a unique event in a woman’s life which has many symptoms. Frequency and severity of these symptoms vary, and they are based on the woman’s epidemiological characteristics. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and severity of menopausal symptoms and related factors among women, 40-60 years in Kashan, Iran. Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 700 menopausal women in Kashan City were selected using cluster sampling. Data were collected by the Menopause Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL). In addition, demographic variables including; current age, age of menarche and menopause, marital status, educational level, working status and exercise activity levels, were recorded. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16 and socio-demographic characteristics were compared using a chi-square test. A P value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The most common symptoms in; vasomotor, psychosocial, physical and sexual domains were; ‘night sweats’, ‘accomplishing less than I used to’, ‘feeling a lack of energy’, and ‘change in sexual desire’, respectively. Moreover, the most severe symptoms in these domains were; ‘night sweats’, ‘feeling anxious or nervous’, ‘aching muscles or joints’, and ‘avoiding intimacy’. There was a statistically significant difference between; the severity of menopausal symptoms and working status (P = 0.017), different educational levels (P = 0.001), exercise activity (P = 0.001), exercise frequency (P = 0.04), and duration of menopause (P = 0.03). Conclusions: The prevalence of menopausal symptoms in our population is similar to most other communities. Employment, higher educational levels, doing physical activity and duration of menopause of more than five years is associated with milder menopausal symptoms.