The Relation of Attitudes towards Menopause of Postmenopausal and Premenopausal Women to Sexual Life and Quality of Life
Yıl 2025,
Cilt: 10 Sayı: 1, 101 - 107, 31.01.2025
Şenay Polat Salman
,
Şükran Ertekin Pınar
Öz
Objective: The study examined the relation of postmenopausal and premenopausal women's attitudes towards menopause to sexual life and quality of life.
Material and Method: The sample of this descriptive study consisted of a total of 322 married women who were in the postmenopausal (n=161) and premenopausal (n=161) periods. The data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Attitudes towards the Menopause Questionnaire (ATMQ), Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX), and Utian Quality of Life (UQOL) Scale.
Results: There was a statistically significant positive relationship between postmenopausal women’s ATMQ scores and emotional quality of life subscale of UQOL (r=0.450; p=0.001) with postmenopausal women’s having negative relationship between ATMQ scores and occupational quality of life of UQOL (r=–0.342; p=0.001), and negative relationship between ATMQ scores and ASEX total scores (r=–0.310; p=0.001).
Conclusion: Postmenopausal women had more negative health-related quality of life and sexual quality of life. As the positive attitudes of postmenopausal women towards menopause increased, their emotional quality of life increased, and their occupational quality of life decreased, and as their positive attitudes towards menopause decreased, their sexual quality of life levels were negatively affected. It is recommended by health professionals provide to help as postmenopausal married women develop positive attitudes toward menopause, to make regular follow-ups, and to provide educational and sexual counseling.
Etik Beyan
Non-interventional Clinical Researches Ethics Committee approval (decision no: 2018-12/27; date: 05.12.2018) and written permission were obtained from the institution where the study would be conducted. The women were informed that their names were not written on the forms, that the findings would only be used within the scope of the research and that they could withdraw from the study at any time. The research was conducted according to the Principles of the Helsinki Declaration.
Kaynakça
- Akhtar N, Bala K, Gupt RK. Attitudes towards menopause and its relationship with sociodemographic factors among postmenopausal women living in a rural area of Jamm: A cross-sectional study. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2020; 7(1): 177–182. https://doi. org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20195850
- Bahri N, Roudsari RL, Tohidinik HR, Sadeghi R. Attitudes towards menopause among Iranian women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2016; 18(10): e31012. https://doi. org/10.5812/ircmj.31012.
- Li S, Ho SC, Sham A. Relationship between menopause status, attitude toward menopause, and quality of life in Chinese midlife women in Hong Kong. Menopause. 2016; 23(1): 67–73. https://doi.org/10.1097/ GME.0000000000000566
- Bello FA, Daramola OO. Attitude to the menopause and sex amongst middle-aged women in a Family Medicine Clinic in Ibadan, Nigeria. Obstet Gynecol Int. 2016; 2016: 2031056. https://doi. org/10.1155/2016/2031056
- Harun MGD, Salema U, Chowdhury A, Haque MI, Kafi MAH, Shahajahan M, et al. Knowledge and attitudes associated with menopause among women aged 45 to 60 years: A pilot study among rural and urban women in Bangladesh. Menopause. 2020; 27(6): 648–657. https://doi. org/10.1097/GME.0000000000001525
- World Health Organization. Menopause. 2022. [cited 2004 May 12]. Available from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact sheets/ detail/menopause#:~:text=The%20regularity %20and%20length%20 of,55%20years%20for%20women%20worldwide
- Irmak Vural P, Balcı Yangın H. Perception of menopause: The Turkish and German women's comparison. Gümüşhane University Journal of Health Sciences. 2016; 5(3): 7–15.
- Dasgupta D, Ray S. Is menopausal status related to women’s attitudes toward menopause and aging? Women & Health. 2017; 57 (3): 311–328. https://doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2016.1160965
- Marvan MaL, Espinosa-Hernandez G, Martinez-Garduno MD, Jasso K. Attitudes toward menopause, sexual function and depressive symptoms in Mexican women. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2018; 39(2): 121–127. https://doi.org/10.1080/0167482X.2017.1308350
- Dasgupta D, Ray S. Attitude toward menopause and aging: A study on postmenopausal women of West Bengal. J Women Aging. 2013; 25(1): 66–79. https://doi.org/10.1080/08952841.2012.720203
- Gregorin J, Pajk JR. Women's experience and attitudes towards menopause and health: Descriptive research. Slovenian Nursing Review. 2016; 50(4): 264–279. https://doi.org/10.14528/snr.2016.50.4.119
- Cornellana MJ, Harvey X, Carballo A, Khartchenko E, Llaneza P, Palacios S, et al. Sexual health in Spanish postmenopausal women presenting at outpatient clinics. Climacteric. 2017; 20(2): 164–170. https://doi.org/10.1080/13697137.2017.1282453
- Gozuyesil E, Avcıbay Vurgec B, Gokyildiz Surucu Onat Koroglu C. The relationship between the attitudes towards menopause and sexual functions among women in the climacteric period, Turkey. Journal of Midwifery and Reproductive Health. 2021; 9(3): 2889–2898. https://doi. org/10.22038/JMRH.2021.57544.1698
- Gozuyesil E, Gokyildiz Surucu S, Alan S. Sexual function and quality-of-life- related problems during the menopausal period. J Health Psychol. 2018; 23(14): 1769–1780. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105317742194
- Yanikkerem E, Goker A, Cakır O, Esmeray N. Effects of physical and depressive symptoms on the sexual life of Turkish women in the climacteric period. Climacteric. 2018; 21(2): 160–166. https://doi.org/10. 1080/13697137.2017.1417374
- Pérez-Herrezuelo I, Aibar-Almazán A, Martínez-Amat A, Fábrega- Cuadros R, Díaz-Mohedo E, Wangensteen R, et al. Female sexual function and its association with the severity of menopause-related symptoms. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17(19): 7235. https:// doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197235.
- Jonusiene G, Zilaitiene B, Adomaitiene V, Aniuliene R, Bancroft J. Sexual function, mood and menopause symptoms in Lithuanian postmenopausal women. Climacteric. 2013; 16: 185–193. https://doi.or g/10.3109/13697137.2012.682746
- Nazarpour S, Simbar M, Tehrani FR, Majd HA. Quality of life and sexual function in postmenopausal women. J Women Aging. 2018; 30(4): 299–309. https://doi.org/10.1080/08952841.2017.1395539
- Andac T, Aslan E. Sexual life of women in the climacterium: A community-based study. Health Care Women Int. 2017; 38(12): 1344– 1355. https://doi.org/10.1080/07399332.2017.1352588
- Ornat L, Martínez-Dearth R, Muño A, Franco P, Alonso B, Tajada M, et al. Sexual function, satisfaction with life and menopausal symptoms in middle-aged women. Maturitas. 2013; 75: 261–269. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2013.04.007
- Lo SS-T, Kok W-M. Sexuality of Chinese women around menopause. Maturitas. 2013; 74: 190–195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. maturitas.2012.11.006
- Nazarpour S, Simbar M, Tehrani FR, Majd HA. Factors associated with quality of life of postmenopausal women living in Iran. BMC Womens Health. 2020; 20(1): 104. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-020-00960-4
- Koirala D, Thapa N, Shrestha S. Quality of life of postmenopausal women of Kaski district. Nep J Obstet Gynecol. 2020; 15(30): 43–49. https://doi.org/10.3126/njog.v15i1.29340
- Demirel Bozkurt O, Sevil U. Menopause and sexual life. Celal Bayar University, Journal of Health Sciences Institute. 2016; 3(4): 497–503.
- Varma GS, Karadağ F, Oğuzhanoğlu NK, Özdel O, Kökten S. Menopause: The relationship between climacteric symptoms and sexual satisfaction. New Symposium Journal. 2006; 44(4): 183–184.
- Bingol O. The fact of gender and womanhood in Turkey. KMU Journal of Social and Economic Studies. 2014; 16: 108–114.
- Ali AM, Ahmed AH, Smail L. Psychological climacteric symptoms and attitudes toward menopause among Emirati women. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 2020; 17: 5028. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17145028
- Uçanok Z. Examination of menopausal symptoms, attitudes and perspectives on life in women of different age groups [dissertation on the internet]. Ankara: Hacettepe University; 1994. [cited 2018 November 10]. Available from: https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/ tezSorguSonucYeni.jsp
- McGahuey CA, Gelenberg AJ, Laukes CA, Moreno FA, Delgado PL, McKnight KM, et al. The Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX): Reliability and Validity. J Sex Marital Ther. 2000; 26(1): 25–40. https://doi. org/10.1080/009262300278623
- Soykan A. The reliability and validity of Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale in Turkish ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis. Int J Impot Res. 2004; 16(6): 531–534. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901249
- Utian HW, Janata WJ, Kingsberg AS, Schluchter M, Hamilton CJ. The Utian Quality of Life (UQOL) Scale: Development and Validation of an Instrument to Quantify Quality of life through and beyond menopause. Menopause. 2002; 9(6): 402–410.
- Abay H. Validation and Reliability of Utian Quality of Life Scale [dissertation on the internet]. Ankara: Yıldırım Beyazıt University; 2013. [cited 2018 November 15]. Available from: https://tez.yok.gov. tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/tezSorguSonucYeni.jsp
- Erbil N, Boyacı S, Kurt I, Akdogan Y, Kaya I. A Turkish study on menarche and menstrual experiences and their effects on attitudes towards menopause. Int J Nurs Pract. 2012; 18(2): 107–116. https://doi. org/10.1111/j.1440-172X.2012.02009.x
- Marvan Ma, Castillo-Lo´pez RL, Arroyo L. Mexican beliefs and attitudes toward menopause and menopausal-related symptoms. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2013; 34(1): 39–45. https://doi.org/10.3 109/0167482X.2012.761194
- AlDughaither A, AlMutairy H, AlAteeq M. Menopausal symptoms and quality of life among Saudi women visiting primary care clinics in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Int J Womens Health. 2015; 29(7): 645–653. https://doi.org/org/10.2147/IJWH.S84709
- El Hajj A, Wardy N, Haidar S, Bourgi D, El Haddad M, El Chammas D, et al. Menopausal symptoms, physical activity level and quality of life of women living in the Mediterranean region. PLoS ONE. 2020; 15(3): e0230515. https://doi.org/org/10.1371/journal.pone.0230515
- Retno Hartanti SST, Satiyem SST, Wiyasa IWA, M.Kes N, Suryana BPP. Menopause-specific quality of life among Indonesian women: A descriptive study. EAS Journal of Nursing and Midwifery. 2020; 2(4): 280–284. https://doi.org/10.36349/EASJNM.2020.v02i04.012
- Gümüsay M, Erbil N. The effect of attitudes towards menopause on menopause specific quality of life of women. Ordu University J Nurs Stud. 2019; 2(2), 96–109.
- Jamali S, Javadpour S, Mosalanejad L, Parnian R. Attitudes about sexual activity among postmenopausal women in different ethnic groups: A cross-sectional study in Jahrom Iran. J Reprod Infertil. 2016; 17(1): 47–55.
Postmenopoz ve Premenopoz Dönemdeki Kadınların Menopoza İlişkin Tutumlarının Cinsel Yaşam ve Yaşam Kalitesi ile İlişkisi
Yıl 2025,
Cilt: 10 Sayı: 1, 101 - 107, 31.01.2025
Şenay Polat Salman
,
Şükran Ertekin Pınar
Öz
Amaç: Araştırma postmenopoz ve premenopoz dönemdeki kadınların menopoza ilişkin tutumlarının cinsel yaşam ve yaşam kalitesi ile ilişkisinin incelenmesi amacı ile yapılmıştır.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı araştırmanın örneklemini postmenopoz (n=161) ve premenepoz (n=161) dönemde olan toplam 322 evli kadın oluşturmuştur. Veriler Kişisel Bilgi Formu, Menopoza İlişkin Tutum Ölçeği (MİTÖ), Arizona Cinsel Yaşantılar Ölçeği (ACYÖ) ve Utian Yaşam Kalitesi Ölçeği (UYKÖ) ile toplanmıştır.
Bulgular: Postmenopozal kadınların MİTÖ puanları ile UYKÖ alt boyutlarından emosyonel yaşam kalitesi arasında (r=0.450; p=0.001) pozitif yönlü, meslek / iş yaşam kalitesi arasında (r=–0.342; p=0.001) negatif yönlü, MİTÖ puanları ile ACYÖ toplam (r=– 0.310; p=0.001) puanları arasında negatif yönlü istatistiksel olarak anlamlı ilişki vardır.
Sonuç: Postmenopozal kadınların sağlık ile ilgili yaşam kaliteleri ve cinsel yaşam kaliteleri daha olumsuzdur. Postmenopozal kadınların menopoza ilişkin olumlu tutumları arttıkça emosyonel yaşam kalitesi düzeyleri artmakta, meslek / iş yaşam kaliteleri azalmakta, olumlu tutumları azaldıkça cinsel yaşamları olumsuz etkilenmektedir. Sağlık profesyonellerinin menopoz sonrası evli kadınların menopoza yönelik olumlu tutum geliştirmelerine yardımcı olmaları, düzenli takip, eğitim ve cinsel danışmanlık yapmaları önerilmektedir.
Kaynakça
- Akhtar N, Bala K, Gupt RK. Attitudes towards menopause and its relationship with sociodemographic factors among postmenopausal women living in a rural area of Jamm: A cross-sectional study. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2020; 7(1): 177–182. https://doi. org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20195850
- Bahri N, Roudsari RL, Tohidinik HR, Sadeghi R. Attitudes towards menopause among Iranian women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2016; 18(10): e31012. https://doi. org/10.5812/ircmj.31012.
- Li S, Ho SC, Sham A. Relationship between menopause status, attitude toward menopause, and quality of life in Chinese midlife women in Hong Kong. Menopause. 2016; 23(1): 67–73. https://doi.org/10.1097/ GME.0000000000000566
- Bello FA, Daramola OO. Attitude to the menopause and sex amongst middle-aged women in a Family Medicine Clinic in Ibadan, Nigeria. Obstet Gynecol Int. 2016; 2016: 2031056. https://doi. org/10.1155/2016/2031056
- Harun MGD, Salema U, Chowdhury A, Haque MI, Kafi MAH, Shahajahan M, et al. Knowledge and attitudes associated with menopause among women aged 45 to 60 years: A pilot study among rural and urban women in Bangladesh. Menopause. 2020; 27(6): 648–657. https://doi. org/10.1097/GME.0000000000001525
- World Health Organization. Menopause. 2022. [cited 2004 May 12]. Available from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact sheets/ detail/menopause#:~:text=The%20regularity %20and%20length%20 of,55%20years%20for%20women%20worldwide
- Irmak Vural P, Balcı Yangın H. Perception of menopause: The Turkish and German women's comparison. Gümüşhane University Journal of Health Sciences. 2016; 5(3): 7–15.
- Dasgupta D, Ray S. Is menopausal status related to women’s attitudes toward menopause and aging? Women & Health. 2017; 57 (3): 311–328. https://doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2016.1160965
- Marvan MaL, Espinosa-Hernandez G, Martinez-Garduno MD, Jasso K. Attitudes toward menopause, sexual function and depressive symptoms in Mexican women. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2018; 39(2): 121–127. https://doi.org/10.1080/0167482X.2017.1308350
- Dasgupta D, Ray S. Attitude toward menopause and aging: A study on postmenopausal women of West Bengal. J Women Aging. 2013; 25(1): 66–79. https://doi.org/10.1080/08952841.2012.720203
- Gregorin J, Pajk JR. Women's experience and attitudes towards menopause and health: Descriptive research. Slovenian Nursing Review. 2016; 50(4): 264–279. https://doi.org/10.14528/snr.2016.50.4.119
- Cornellana MJ, Harvey X, Carballo A, Khartchenko E, Llaneza P, Palacios S, et al. Sexual health in Spanish postmenopausal women presenting at outpatient clinics. Climacteric. 2017; 20(2): 164–170. https://doi.org/10.1080/13697137.2017.1282453
- Gozuyesil E, Avcıbay Vurgec B, Gokyildiz Surucu Onat Koroglu C. The relationship between the attitudes towards menopause and sexual functions among women in the climacteric period, Turkey. Journal of Midwifery and Reproductive Health. 2021; 9(3): 2889–2898. https://doi. org/10.22038/JMRH.2021.57544.1698
- Gozuyesil E, Gokyildiz Surucu S, Alan S. Sexual function and quality-of-life- related problems during the menopausal period. J Health Psychol. 2018; 23(14): 1769–1780. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105317742194
- Yanikkerem E, Goker A, Cakır O, Esmeray N. Effects of physical and depressive symptoms on the sexual life of Turkish women in the climacteric period. Climacteric. 2018; 21(2): 160–166. https://doi.org/10. 1080/13697137.2017.1417374
- Pérez-Herrezuelo I, Aibar-Almazán A, Martínez-Amat A, Fábrega- Cuadros R, Díaz-Mohedo E, Wangensteen R, et al. Female sexual function and its association with the severity of menopause-related symptoms. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17(19): 7235. https:// doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197235.
- Jonusiene G, Zilaitiene B, Adomaitiene V, Aniuliene R, Bancroft J. Sexual function, mood and menopause symptoms in Lithuanian postmenopausal women. Climacteric. 2013; 16: 185–193. https://doi.or g/10.3109/13697137.2012.682746
- Nazarpour S, Simbar M, Tehrani FR, Majd HA. Quality of life and sexual function in postmenopausal women. J Women Aging. 2018; 30(4): 299–309. https://doi.org/10.1080/08952841.2017.1395539
- Andac T, Aslan E. Sexual life of women in the climacterium: A community-based study. Health Care Women Int. 2017; 38(12): 1344– 1355. https://doi.org/10.1080/07399332.2017.1352588
- Ornat L, Martínez-Dearth R, Muño A, Franco P, Alonso B, Tajada M, et al. Sexual function, satisfaction with life and menopausal symptoms in middle-aged women. Maturitas. 2013; 75: 261–269. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2013.04.007
- Lo SS-T, Kok W-M. Sexuality of Chinese women around menopause. Maturitas. 2013; 74: 190–195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. maturitas.2012.11.006
- Nazarpour S, Simbar M, Tehrani FR, Majd HA. Factors associated with quality of life of postmenopausal women living in Iran. BMC Womens Health. 2020; 20(1): 104. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-020-00960-4
- Koirala D, Thapa N, Shrestha S. Quality of life of postmenopausal women of Kaski district. Nep J Obstet Gynecol. 2020; 15(30): 43–49. https://doi.org/10.3126/njog.v15i1.29340
- Demirel Bozkurt O, Sevil U. Menopause and sexual life. Celal Bayar University, Journal of Health Sciences Institute. 2016; 3(4): 497–503.
- Varma GS, Karadağ F, Oğuzhanoğlu NK, Özdel O, Kökten S. Menopause: The relationship between climacteric symptoms and sexual satisfaction. New Symposium Journal. 2006; 44(4): 183–184.
- Bingol O. The fact of gender and womanhood in Turkey. KMU Journal of Social and Economic Studies. 2014; 16: 108–114.
- Ali AM, Ahmed AH, Smail L. Psychological climacteric symptoms and attitudes toward menopause among Emirati women. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 2020; 17: 5028. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17145028
- Uçanok Z. Examination of menopausal symptoms, attitudes and perspectives on life in women of different age groups [dissertation on the internet]. Ankara: Hacettepe University; 1994. [cited 2018 November 10]. Available from: https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/ tezSorguSonucYeni.jsp
- McGahuey CA, Gelenberg AJ, Laukes CA, Moreno FA, Delgado PL, McKnight KM, et al. The Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX): Reliability and Validity. J Sex Marital Ther. 2000; 26(1): 25–40. https://doi. org/10.1080/009262300278623
- Soykan A. The reliability and validity of Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale in Turkish ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis. Int J Impot Res. 2004; 16(6): 531–534. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901249
- Utian HW, Janata WJ, Kingsberg AS, Schluchter M, Hamilton CJ. The Utian Quality of Life (UQOL) Scale: Development and Validation of an Instrument to Quantify Quality of life through and beyond menopause. Menopause. 2002; 9(6): 402–410.
- Abay H. Validation and Reliability of Utian Quality of Life Scale [dissertation on the internet]. Ankara: Yıldırım Beyazıt University; 2013. [cited 2018 November 15]. Available from: https://tez.yok.gov. tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/tezSorguSonucYeni.jsp
- Erbil N, Boyacı S, Kurt I, Akdogan Y, Kaya I. A Turkish study on menarche and menstrual experiences and their effects on attitudes towards menopause. Int J Nurs Pract. 2012; 18(2): 107–116. https://doi. org/10.1111/j.1440-172X.2012.02009.x
- Marvan Ma, Castillo-Lo´pez RL, Arroyo L. Mexican beliefs and attitudes toward menopause and menopausal-related symptoms. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2013; 34(1): 39–45. https://doi.org/10.3 109/0167482X.2012.761194
- AlDughaither A, AlMutairy H, AlAteeq M. Menopausal symptoms and quality of life among Saudi women visiting primary care clinics in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Int J Womens Health. 2015; 29(7): 645–653. https://doi.org/org/10.2147/IJWH.S84709
- El Hajj A, Wardy N, Haidar S, Bourgi D, El Haddad M, El Chammas D, et al. Menopausal symptoms, physical activity level and quality of life of women living in the Mediterranean region. PLoS ONE. 2020; 15(3): e0230515. https://doi.org/org/10.1371/journal.pone.0230515
- Retno Hartanti SST, Satiyem SST, Wiyasa IWA, M.Kes N, Suryana BPP. Menopause-specific quality of life among Indonesian women: A descriptive study. EAS Journal of Nursing and Midwifery. 2020; 2(4): 280–284. https://doi.org/10.36349/EASJNM.2020.v02i04.012
- Gümüsay M, Erbil N. The effect of attitudes towards menopause on menopause specific quality of life of women. Ordu University J Nurs Stud. 2019; 2(2), 96–109.
- Jamali S, Javadpour S, Mosalanejad L, Parnian R. Attitudes about sexual activity among postmenopausal women in different ethnic groups: A cross-sectional study in Jahrom Iran. J Reprod Infertil. 2016; 17(1): 47–55.