57% of postmenopausal women perceived menopause as convenient. 69% of them complained of diminishing abilities after menopause. 23% felt that sexual life ends with the onset of menopause. 16% reported that their husbands had become disinterested in them after menopause and 11% were apprehensive about the loss of femininity. A higher proportion of postmenopausal women reported hot flushes, night sweats, urge incontinence and other somatic symptoms as compared to premenopausal women. 54% of postmenopausal and 32% of premenopausal women were currently not sexually active. 59% of postmenopausal and 38% of premenopausal women expressed loss of sexual desire and this difference was statistically significant. There was no significant association between menopause and depression. A poor perceived relationship within the family was shown to have a significant association with depression. There was a significant association between multiple somatic symptoms and menopause. A significantly higher proportion of postmenopausal women suffer from vasomotor symptoms, urge incontinence, loss of sexual desire and multiple somatic symptoms. They do not link these symptoms with menopause. Poor family environmental factors have a stronger association with depression than menopause. In view of these findings, it is important to determine the feasibility and impact of hormone replacement therapy in preventive health care in rural India.

Peeyananjarassri K et.al (2006) conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate menopausal symptoms and quality of life in middle-aged women. The data collected from 270 women aged between 45-65 years who attended the menopause and gynecological clinic, by using the Menopause quality of life questionnaire as the tool.

The results stated that the mean age at menopause of the postmenopausal women was 48.7 years. The prevalence of the menopausal symptoms like night sweats, hot flashes and vaginal dryness among the women aged 45-65 years were 20.8%, 36.8% and 55.3% respectively. In perimenopause, the three most prevalent symptoms were experiencing poor memory, muscle and joint aches and change in libido. The researcher concluded that perimenopausal and postmenopausal women had a significant decrease in quality of life compared to premenopausal women.

Huerta R et.al (1995) studied the association of symptoms with attitudes toward life-style, sexuality, follicle-stimulating hormone and family functioning levels in perimenopausal women. Data collected on anxiety, depression and nonspecific index of depression in 222 women. Family functioning was assessed with the McMaster model, and women’s opinions about sexuality were assessed by a questionnaire. Scores of depression were higher in women with more than 1 year of menopause. Attitudes to sexuality were significantly associated with all four symptoms. For family function, affective involvement, control of behavior, the roles of the members in the family, and communication were associated with some symptoms. Serum FSH was associated with body mass index, abdomen/hip ratio, and depression. Researchers concluded that attitudes toward sexuality regresses the symptoms, the family functioning is also associated with symptoms and FSH levels may be higher in women with depression or anxiety and lower in obese menopausal women.

Howard JR et.al (2004) did a study to investigate the sexual relationships, sexual behavior, sexual distress, sexual dysfunction and sexual satisfaction in 474 urban Australian women. The instruments used were the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS), Short Personal Experiences Questionnaire (SPEQ), Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS).

The results stated that the percentage of women with partners ranged from 46.4% women in the 70 – 79 years age group whereas in the 40 – 49 years age group it was 83.3%. The sexual ability of partners decreased markedly with age, 4.8% of the partners used medicine to enable erections and whereas 2.5% of women reported low satisfaction in sexual relationship. Low sexual distress was reported by 5.7% of women. Younger women and women with partners had higher levels of distress than older women. The researcher concluded that when the women become aged, their sexual activity, libido and distress about sex decreased.

Laurie. K.et.al. (2008) conducted a study to investigate the direct and indirect relationship between psychological distress, psychosocial factors, stress, severity of menopausal symptoms and physical health in women aged 45-55 years. One hundred and sixteen women were selected through community organizations and women’s health centers. They answered a short questionnaire asking about psychological distress, menopause symptoms, stress and physical health. This research concluded that high emotional intelligent women have positive attitude towards menopause and they experience less severe menopause symptoms, psychological distress, stress and better physical health. These results suggested that women, who expect menopause to be a difficult process, are undergoing greater stress than others are.

Callister, L. et.al (2008) conducted a descriptive qualitative study to describe the perceptions about menopausal transition among Jordanian midlife women. Audio taped interviews were conducted with 25 perimenopausal Jordanian women.

The results stated that there are no more reproductive obligations, give relief and rest, provide time for managing perimenopausal symptoms, and provide time for growing into wise woman and accepting aging as a part of life.

2. Menopause rating scale.

Jara D, et.al (2008) conducted a study to evaluate the accuracy of the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) in diagnosing SD among climacteric women. In this cross-sectional study, 370 women aged 40-59 years filled out the MRS and the Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI) simultaneously. SD among surveyed women was defined as those obtaining a total FSFI score of<or=26.55. a=”” receiver-operator=”” curve=”” (roc)=”” was=”” used=”” to=”” plot=”” and=”” measure=”” the=”” diagnostic=”” accuracy=”” of=”” one=”” mrs=”” item=”” (item=”” 8,=”” assessing=”” sexual=”” problems)=”” using=”” fsfi=”” total=”” score=”” as=”” gold=”” standard.<=”” p=””></or=26.55.>

The results stated that mean age of surveyed women was 49.3+/-5.8 years. A 56.5% of them were married, 44.3% were postmenopausal, 66.8% were sexually active and 57% had SD (FSFI total score <or=26.55). roc=”” curve=”” determined=”” a=”” score=””>or=1 in the MRS item 8 as a cut-off value for discriminating women with SD (78% sensitivity and 62% specificity with an area below the curve of 0.70 Swett). The researcher concluded that the MRS was moderately accurate for diagnosing SD among climacteric women. More research is warranted in this regard.</or=26.55).>

Rahman SA et.al (2009) conducted a study to determine the common menopausal symptoms among Sarawakian women (MRS) by using Menopause Rating Scale questionnaire, 356 Sarawakian women aged between 40-65 years were interviewed to document 11 symptoms commonly related to menopause.

The results stated that the mean age of menopause was 51.3 years). The most prevalent symptoms reported were joint and muscular discomfort (80.1%); physical and mental exhaustion (67.1%); and sleeping problems (52.2%). Followed by symptoms of hot flushes and sweating (41.6%); irritability (37.9%); dryness of vagina (37.9%); anxiety (36.5%); depressive mood (32.6%). Other complaints noted were sexual problem (30.9%); bladder problem (13.8%) and heart discomfort (18.3%). Perimenopausal women (n = 141) experienced higher prevalence of somatic and psychological symptoms compared to premenopausal (n = 82) and postmenopausal (n=133) women. However, urogenital symptoms mostly occur in the postmenopausal group of women. The researcher concluded that the prevalence of menopausal symptoms of hot flushes, sweating was lower among Sarawakian women compared to studies on Caucasian women.

3. Effect of exercise on menopausal symptoms

Christine MacArthur (2007) did a study to examine the association between body mass index, exercise participation and health-related quality of life in menopausal women. Two thousand three hundred and ninety nine (2,399) aged 46–55 years selected in the West Midlands. The tool was a questionnaire containing items relating to lifestyle factors, weight, demographics, height; menopausal bleeding patterns exercise participation, and health-related quality of life.

The results stated that the regularly active women reported better health in quality of life scores than others in all subscales. No difference in vasomotor symptoms was recorded for exercise status. Obese women reported significantly (P<0.01) higher scores in vasomotor symptoms, somatic symptoms and attractiveness concern scores than normal weight women. The data reported a positive association between psychological and somatic dimensions in quality of life and regular exercise participation.

James.w.Carson (2009) conducted a study to assess the effectiveness of yoga intervention on menopausal symptoms in early-stage breast cancer survivors. Thirty-seven disease-free women experiencing hot flashes underwent the 8-week Yoga Program (breathing exercises, meditation and gentle yoga poses). The daily report of hot flashes was gathered at baseline and 3 months after treatment through an interactive telephone system. The results stated that women who underwent the yoga program shown greater improvements in reduction of hot flash, joint paint, fatigue and sleep disturbance in early-stage breast cancer survivors.

AyÅŸegul Agil et.al, (2009) did a study to determine the effectiveness of different short-term exercise programs on psychological health, menopausal sympto