
Editorial
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Menopause is a natural part of women’s lives and is associated with a series of complications that can impair their quality of life. This study was conducted to determine the effect of specific educational interventions on the quality of life among postmenopausal women.
This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 80 menopausal women who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were selected through the multi-stage stratified random sampling method. The participants were randomly allocated to either the control or intervention group (40 per group). The intervention comprised 5 × 45-min educational sessions based on the Multi-Theory Model on the predetermined days of the week. The scores of the quality of life level were collected at baseline, immediately, and 3 months after the intervention using the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life questionnaire (MENQOL). The control group received a health advice.
Analysis of variance of repeated measures showed a significant interaction between time and intervention. The comparison between the mean score of quality of life of the “before,” “immediately after intervention,” and “3 months after the intervention” showed a significant difference between the two groups. The intervention group quality of life improved significantly as the intervention went on compared to the control group.
Structured simple educational programs based on the Multi-Theory Model could be used as a simple and noninvasive intervention that help menopausal women improve their quality of life through menopausal symptoms relief. Further interventions with larger trials may be required to confirm these findings.
The study aims to explore the perceptions and experiences of menopausal women living in Karachi, Pakistan.
Using qualitative exploratory design, in-depth interviews were conducted with eleven women, aged 35–55 years. The data was collected through face-to-face interviews using semi structured interview guide. Creswell frame work for content analysis was used to analyze the data.
Perceptions and experiences of menopause women living in Karachi, Pakistan.
Women described positive and negative experiences of menopause, though predominantly negative intensified by mental distress, lack of support from intimate partner, and misperceptions about menopause. A majority of the women emphasized the need for educating their husbands regarding menopausal changes. In clinical practices, health care professionals should screen the women for menopause challenges when they visit health care facilities and offer education regarding self-care and management to achieve better quality of life and positive coping.
We conducted a preliminary study on women’s perceptions and experiences of menopause in the context of Pakistan. Our study offers significant findings from an Asian cultural perspective, in which norms are predominantly patriarchal and male dominated. The study provides useful guidelines for health care providers to better address health care needs of menopausal women.
The menopausal transition is associated with increasing sleep disorders including sleep apnoea and restless leg syndrome. Insomnia is the most common and is recognised as a core symptom of the menopause. Guidelines to support decision making for women with sleep problems during the menopausal transition are lacking. Sleep problems are associated with negative impacts on healthcare utilisation, quality of life and work productivity. Sleep deprivation is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and neurobehavioral dysfunction. Declining oestrogen is implicated as a cause of menopausal sleep disruption. Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and menopausal mood disturbance are also factors in the complex aetiology. VMS commonly precipitate insomnia and, due to their prolonged duration, they often perpetuate the condition. Insomnia in the general population is most effectively treated with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) (also effective in the menopausal transition.) The associations of menopausal sleep disturbance with VMS and depression mean that other treatment options must be considered. Existing guidelines outline effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), CBT and antidepressants. HRT may indirectly help with sleep disturbance by treating VMS and also via beneficial effect on mood symptoms. The evidence base underpinning menopausal insomnia often references risks associated with HRT that are not in line with current international menopause guidelines. This may influence clinicians managing sleep disorders, leading to hesitation in offering HRT, despite evidence of effectiveness. Viewing sleep symptoms on an axis of menopausal symptoms – towards vasomotor symptoms or towards mood symptoms may help tailor treatment options towards the symptom profile.
The quality of life in menopausal women is considered to be an important health issue in different societies and one of the main objectives of health care in this period. This study aimed to investigate the effects of yoga on improving the quality of life in menopausal women.
English databases of Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library were searched to access related articles using keywords of menopause, quality of life, and yoga. Furthermore, Persian equivalents of the same keywords were searched in databases of Google Scholar, SID, and Magiran, in addition to a combination of the keywords. The search interval was from the inspection to January 2020. The quality of the included studied was assessed based on CONSORT 2017 checklist.
Out of 120 articles found in the databases, six articles entered the study based on the inclusion criteria and were investigated for intervention methods and consequences. The results indicated the positive impact of yoga on the quality of life in menopausal women.
Considering the effects of yoga on the symptoms and quality of life in menopausal women, it is suggested that this low-cost method be used to improve their quality of life and health.
Surgical menopause (bilateral oophorectomy) is commonly undertaken during a hysterectomy to treat various medical conditions. Menopausal symptoms can be particularly severe due to the sudden loss of ovarian function. This clinical toolkit is intended to guide healthcare professionals caring for women undergoing surgical menopause. Women commonly experience vasomotor symptoms, sexual dysfunction and an increased risk of cardiovascular and osteoporotic disease. Compared with a natural menopause, loss of libido can be more pronounced following a surgical menopause. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) plays a significant role in managing surgical menopause, especially in women aged under 45 years old. All women undergoing surgical menopause should have adequate counselling regarding the hormonal consequences of surgery and the role of HRT with a view to provide individualised, patient-centred care.


