The effect of aromatherapy on menopozal quality of life and vasomotor symptoms

Aim: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of aromatherapy on the menopausal quality of life and vasomotor symptoms in women with vasomotor complaints. Method: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in the Famagusta district of Northern Cyprus between March and December 2023. Data were collected at the Famagusta Development Centre, which is affiliated with the Famagusta municipality. The sample of the study consisted of 66 menopausal women who met the inclusion criteria and were randomized. The mint oil group was 22, the rose oil group was 22 and the placebo group was completed with 22 participants. Participants were randomized into three groups of equal size, including, the mint oil, the rose oil and the placebo groups. Descriptive information form, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale (HFR-DIS), the Menopause-specific Quality of Life Scale (MS-QoLS) and the Aromatherapy Follow-up Scale were used for data collection. Women, who obtained a score greater than five on the VAS were included in the study. A pre-test was applied to all women included in the study. In the subsequent phase of the study, participants in the mint and rose groups were instructed to utilize the prepared oils for a period of 12 months, while those in the placebo group were asked to utilize the sprays with water. At the end of 12 weeks, a posttest was administered to all three groups. Results: The posttest MS-QoLS and HFR-DIS scores of the aromatherapy groups were significantly lower than their pretest scores and the obtained by the placebo group. While the quality of life of the aromatherapy groups exhibited an improvement, menopausal symptoms exhibited a reduction. There was no statistically significant difference between the pretest and posttest MS-QoLS and HFR-DIS scores of the placebo group. Conclusion: Aromatherapy with spray had a positive effect on menopausal quality of life and vasomotor symptoms. While there was no statistically significant difference between the pretest scores of the mint and rose groups, it was observed that both interventions had positive effects starting from the fourth week. Therefore, it can be concluded that aromatherapy is a low-cost method to alleviate the symptoms experienced by menopausal women and to improve their quality of life.