The evaluation of menopause symptoms of women at the age of 40-69 in Eskisehir rural areas

It is important to determine the life quality levels of women in menopause period and related factors to improve the women’s health. The aim of the study is to determine the severity of menopausal symptoms in women at the age of 40-69 living in rural areas of Eskisehir and the affecting factors.
The study was carried out on a sample group chosen among women at the age of 40-69 living in rural areas of Eskisehir province. The frequency of menopausal symptoms for the sample volume of the study were figured out as about 600. The survey questioned the socio-demographic characteristics, menstrual-obstetrical history of women and severity of the menopausal symptoms. 12 months of pre-menopausal irregular periods and 3 months of amenorrhea was described as peri-menopause, 12 months of amenorrhea was described as post-menopause and the period which ovarian functions are not disrupted and menopausal symptoms are not seen yet was described as pre-menopause.  The severity of the menopausal symptoms was evaluated with Grading Scale of Menopausal Symptoms (GSMS) by assigning scores between 0-4. Independent variables on severity of menopausal symptoms were determined by logistic regression model.
Average age of the women in the study group was 52.01±9.04, and 6.5% of them were in pre-menopause, 12.5% were in peri-menopause, and 58.8% were in post-menopause period.  Average age of going through the menopause was 46.07±5.09 (30-54). It was determined that menopausal symptoms are more intensely observed in women at the age of 45 and above, in elders, in illiterates, in those evaluating their health status as poor, those describing dysmenorrhea, and in women having two or more miscarriages. Woman health should be seen as a whole in pre-fertility and post-fertility periods, studies should be done covering health services aimed at menopausal period.