Climacterium - opinions, experiences, and attitudes of women regarding menopause

Abstract

Aim: This descriptive qualitative study provides information on research dealing with women’s opinions, experiences, and attitudes toward menopause. Design: A descriptive qualitative study. Methods: Individual semi-structured in-depth interviews were used for qualitative research into this topic. The research group consisted of 17 women aged 40 to 55 years. Thematic data analysis was used to analyze the data obtained. Results: Based on the thematic analysis, the following categories were created: 1) Association with the period of menopause; 2) Experiencing menopause; and 3) Education. The results showed that women viewed menopause as a transitional phase of life. The main symptoms included hot flashes, night sweats, disturbed sleep, mood swings, and weight gain. Prior to the study, participants were not interested in additional information on the issue. Conclusion: As estrogen levels decline later in life, women transition from the reproductive to the post-reproductive phase of their lives. For women to experience healthy menopause, they must understand the process before they begin to experience the consequences of estrogen deficiency.