THE EFFECT OF THE MENOPAUSE PERIOD ON WOMEN'S QUALITY OF LIFE

Introduction and Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the effect of physical and mental symptoms seen in women during menopause on the quality of life of menopausal women.Material and methods: The research is a cross-sectional and descriptive-relationship-seeking study. The population of the study consisted of women aged 45-55 who applied to the Training and Research Hospital Menopause Polyclinic of the Ministry of Health between July 2022 and December 2022. The sample of the study; 74 women were included in the study. Data were obtained by face-to face interview method using the Introductory Information Form, Menopausal Complaints and Quality of Life Scale.Results and discussion: The mean age of menopause of women was 51.18±3.75 (min:45- max:55) and the duration of menopause was 6.53±5.70 (min:1-max:8) years, and more than half of them had menopausal complaints. It was determined that they applied to the hospital (77%) and very few (9.5%) used a complementary method for their menopausal period complaints. Of the women, 87.8% had hot flashes, 75.7% had tiredness, 82.4% had joint-muscle pain, 52.7% had sexual problems, 85.1% had nervousness, and 78% had sleeplessness. The mean score of the women's Utian Quality of Life Scale was 53.24±10.17. Also the mean score of the quality of life in the occupational/work, sexual, health, and emotional domains were 15.60±4.00; 7.14±3.05; 17.43±4.17 and 13.05±3.85, respectively. It was determined that the menopausal complaints of women affected the mean quality of life score significantly (p<.05).Conclusion: As a result, women's menopausal complaints affect their quality of life negatively