Investigation of factors affecting menopausal symptom severity and menopause-spesific quality of life

This study was planned to compare the physical activity, psychological status and quality of life of the individuals according to the severity of menopausal symptoms and to investigate the factors affecting the severity of menopausal symptoms. 245 individuals with a mean age of 56.64 ± 6.59 years in the perimenopausal and postmenopausal period were included in the study. Menopausal symptom severity of the individuals was evaluated with "Blatt-Kupperman Menopausal Index (BKMI)" and "Menopause Rating Scale" and the menopausal quality of life (QOL) of the individuals was evaluated with "Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire". Individuals were divided into 3 groups by using BKMI score as "mild symptomatic" (n=112), "moderate symptomatic" (n=107), and "severe symptomatic" (n=26). Demographic (age, marital status, educational and employment status) and physical characteristics (body mass index), medical history (chronic disease status, obstetric and menopausal characteristics), physical activity level, anxiety and depression level and general QOL was evaluate and the effect of all these parameters on menopausal symptom severity and menopause-spesific QOL was investigated. According to the results of the study, marital status, body mass index, presence of chronic disease, number of pregnancy, perception of menopause, anxiety level, psychological status and general QOL were found to be statistically significant factors in terms of menopausal symptom severity and menopause-specific QOL (p>0.05). On the other hand, there was no statistically significant effect for the factors of age, educational and working status, number of vaginal births, menopause type, menopausal stage and physical activity level (p> 0.05). According to the results of the study, individual assessment and treatment programs should be established by considering all factors determined to have an impact on menopausal symptom severity and menopause-specific QOL.Further studies with large samples are needed to investigate the factors affecting menopausal symptoms and menopause-specific QOL in Turkey's rural and urban women living in different geographical regions. Keywords: Menopause, Menopausal Symptoms, Quality of Life, Menopause-Specific Quality of Life, Risk Factor