Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

A Qualitative Study Exploring Post-menopausal Women's Perceptions and Experiences of Menopause


Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology, Victoria Institution (College), Kolkata, West Bengal, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Living through menopause is a complex experience. Menopause marks the beginning of an infertile phase from the fertile phase. The experience of menopause influences post-menopausal women's quality of life. This study delves into the understanding of women's menopausal experience and their perception of menopausal experience. Fifteen post-menopausal women were included in the study using purposive sampling through snowball sampling in Kolkata, West Bengal. In-depth semi-structured interviews were used to delve into the understanding of a women's menopausal experience and her perception of menopausal experience. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. To describe the women's experiences and perception of menopause, the themes that emerged were health related changes, perception of menopause, change in relationships, and social support. The current study found that support from husband, and social support largely impacts this experience. According to this study, women turned to their families, and peers, for assistance with their issues. Health care professionals should therefore educate women about menopause in addition to being fully informed of its course. It is important to consider their peers' and families' contributions. It is advised that more research be done on how psychological therapies might be used to address these issues in postmenopausal women.

Keywords

menopause, experience, Indian, women, post-menopause, Kolkata
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Alshogran, O. Y., Mahmoud, F. M., & Alkhatatbeh, M. J. (2021). Knowledge and awareness toward menopause and hormone therapy among premenopausal women in Jordan. Climacteric, 24(2), 171-178.

  • Bromberger, J. T., & Kravitz, H. M. (2011). Mood and menopause: Findings from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) over 10 years. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America, 38(3), 609-625. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ogc .2011.05.011

  • Crouch, M., & McKenzie, H. (2006). The logic of small samples in interview-based qualitative research. Social Science Information, 45(4), 483-499.

  • Currie, H., & Moger, S. J. (2019). Menopause understanding the impact on women and their partners. Post Reproductive Health, 25(4), 183-190.

  • Dasgupta, D., & Ray, S. (2017). Is menopausal status related to women's attitudes toward menopause and aging? Women and Health, 57(3), 311-328.

  • Deeks, A. A. (2003). Psychological aspects of menopause management. Best Practice and Research Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 17(1), 17-31.

  • Dillaway, H. E. (2005). Menopause is the “good old” women's thoughts about reproductive aging. Gender and Society, 19(3), 398-417

  • . Ghazanfarpour, M., Khadivzadeh, T., Latifnejad Roudsari, R., & Mehdi Hazavehei, S. M. (2017). Obstacles to the discussion of sexual problems in menopausal women: a qualitative study of healthcare providers. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology: the Journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 37(5), 660-666.

  • G K, P., & Arounassalame, B. (2013). The quality of life during and after menopause among rural women. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research: JCDR, 7(1), 135- 139. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2012/4910.2688

  • Goodman, N. F., Cobin, R. H., Ginzburg, S. B., Katz, I. A., Woode, D. E., Camacho, P. M., & Petak, S. M. (2011). American association of clinical endocrinologists medical guidelines for clinical practice for the diagnosis and treatment of menopause. Endocrine Practice, 17, 1-25.

  • Hakimi, S., Haggi, H. B., Shojai, S. K., Farahbakhsh, M., & Farhan, F. (2018). Comparing the pattern of menopausal symptoms, concern and attitudes in urban and rural postmenopausal Iranian women. Journal of Menopausal Medicine, 24(1), 50-55.

  • Hoga, L., Rodolpho, J., Gonçalves, B., & Quirino, B. (2015). Women's experience of menopause: A systematic review of qualitative evidence. JBI Evidence Synthesis, 13(8), 250-337.

  • Huang, K. E., Xu, L., Nasri, N., & Jaisamrarn, U. (2010). The Asian menopause survey: Knowledge, perceptions, hormone treatment and sexual function. Maturitas, 65(3), 276-283.

  • Ji, M. X., & Yu, Q. (2015). Primary osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Chronic Diseases and Translational Medicine, 1(1), 9-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdt m.2015.02.006

  • Leder, D. (1990). The absent body. University of Chicago Press.

  • Manesh, M. J., & Moghadam, Z. B. (2011). The experiences of menopause through the lens of Iranian women: Content analysis study. Australian Journal of Basic Applied Science, 5(8), 1543-1548.

  • McAllister, M. (1998). Menopause: providing comprehensive care for women in transition. Lippincott's Primary Care Practice, 2(3), 256-270.

  • Mollaahmadi, L., Keramat, A., Changizi, N., Yazdkhasti, M., & Afshar, B. (2019). Evaluation and comparison of the effects of various cognitive-behavioral therapy

  • More, S., & Sujatha, P. (2018). Knowledge, attitude and experiences of menopause in the postmenopausal women at a tertiary care center: A cross sectional study. International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology, 7(11), 4758-4762.

  • Nusrat, N., Nishat, Z., Gulfareen, H., Aftab, M., & Asia, N. (2008). Knowledge, attitude and experience of menopause. Journal of Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad: JAMC, 20(1), 56-59.

  • Pearce, G., Thøgersen-Ntoumani, C., & Duda, J. (2014). Body image during the menopausal transition: a systematic scoping review. Health Psychology Review, 8(4), 473-489.

  • Sakdiah, M.H., Sulaiman, H., & Zulkefli, N.A. (2015). Views on ageing: A qualitative study among malay middle-aged women in urban setting in Malaysia. International Journal of Health Sciences and Research, 5, 248-256.

  • Shakila, P., Sridharan, P., & Thiyagarajan, S. (2014). An assessment of women's awareness and symptoms in menopause (a study with reference to academic women's at Sri Lanka). Journal Business Economic Policy, 1(2), 115–124.

  • Stanzel, K. A., Hammarberg, K., & Fisher, J. (2021). 'Not everybody is an internet person': Barriers for menopause-related health literacy among immigrant women from the Horn of Africa nations. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 32, 61-68.

  • Wong, E. L., Huang, F., Cheung, A. W., & Wong, C. K. (2018). The impact of menopause on the sexual health of Chinese Cantonese women: A mixed methods study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 74(7), 1672-1684.


Abstract Views: 145

PDF Views: 0




  • A Qualitative Study Exploring Post-menopausal Women's Perceptions and Experiences of Menopause

Abstract Views: 145  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Dolon Dawn
Department of Psychology, Victoria Institution (College), Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Abstract


Living through menopause is a complex experience. Menopause marks the beginning of an infertile phase from the fertile phase. The experience of menopause influences post-menopausal women's quality of life. This study delves into the understanding of women's menopausal experience and their perception of menopausal experience. Fifteen post-menopausal women were included in the study using purposive sampling through snowball sampling in Kolkata, West Bengal. In-depth semi-structured interviews were used to delve into the understanding of a women's menopausal experience and her perception of menopausal experience. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. To describe the women's experiences and perception of menopause, the themes that emerged were health related changes, perception of menopause, change in relationships, and social support. The current study found that support from husband, and social support largely impacts this experience. According to this study, women turned to their families, and peers, for assistance with their issues. Health care professionals should therefore educate women about menopause in addition to being fully informed of its course. It is important to consider their peers' and families' contributions. It is advised that more research be done on how psychological therapies might be used to address these issues in postmenopausal women.

Keywords


menopause, experience, Indian, women, post-menopause, Kolkata

References