Postmenopausal Symptoms and Their Correlates among Saudi Women Attending Different Primary Health Centers

• Main Authors: Doaa M. Abdel-Salam, Rehab A. Mohamed, Rawan R. Alruwaili, Farah S. Alhablani, Raghad M. Aldaghmi, Raghad E. ALghassab
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: postmenopausal symptoms; MRS; associated factors; reproductive health; psychological wellbeing; Saudi women
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/13/6831
• ISSN: 1661-7827; 1660-4601

(1) Background and objectives: Due to increasing life expectancy, more than one-third of women’s life can be spent in the postmenopausal period. In this period, women have different somatic, psychological, and urogenital symptoms. The present study was done to evaluate postmenopausal symptoms and their correlations among Saudi women attending different primary health centers. (2) Methods: adopting a cross-sectional study was done among 845 postmenopausal women attending different primary health centers. The menopause rating scale (MRS) was utilized to investigate the prevalence and severity of different menopausal manifestations. Data collection was done using a structured anonymous questionnaire disseminated during face-to-face interviews. Analysis of data was done utilizing the SPSS program, version 24. (3) Results: The total MRS score was 15.68 ± 6.85. The mean score of the subscales were: 5.56 ± 2.78 for the somatic domain, 6.04 ± 2.89 for the psychological domain, and 4.08 ± 2.32 for the urogenital domain. Joint and muscle pain (25.2%) and sleep problems (18.6%) were the most prevalent severe/very severe somatic symptoms. The most severe/very severe symptoms of the psychological domain were mental and physical exhaustion (20.2%) and depressed mode (19.2%), while that of the urogenital domain were sexual problems (20.1%) and bladder problems (16.3%). Significant predictors of the subscales of MRS were sociodemographic characteristics such as age, residence, marital status, educational level, and occupation. Furthermore, history of chronic diseases, parity, and menopause duration were significant predictors of the subscales of MRS. (4) Conclusion: women in the present study experience different postmenopausal symptoms. Health care providers should consider this crucial stage of women’s life to help elderly women manage these different postmenopausal manifestations.