Abstract

Prof. S. K. Zinnat Ara Nasreen, Dr. Safinaz Shahreen and Dr. Saleheen Huq

ABSTRACT

Women are living longer, almost more than two third of their life span is passed through postmenopause and so many of them suffer from short and long term consequences of estrogen deficiency. Climacteric symptoms start from perimenopause period but lasts for variable period of time beyond menopause. Many women feel symptoms like hot flushes, night sweats, restless, palpitation, insomnia, dry vagina, urinary frequency, diminished sexuality and mental disturbances. Beside that menopause has long term consequences like, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment and metabolic syndrome. Vasomotor symptoms symptoms predominate most, but though sexual disorders are not life threatening but it decreases the quality of life. Good Sexual health is important to improve the quality of life. Knowing the prevalence of symptoms shape the strategy of holistic treatment approach for these women. Objective: To assess the frequency of menopausal symptoms, sexual problems and to identify the number of women used Menopause hormlne therapy (MHT) in peri and post menopause women. Methodology: A hospital based cross sectional study was carried out on all perimenopausal and post-menopausal women of age 45 to 55 year attended Sikder women medical college and medinova consultation center during the period of July 2022 to December 2024. Total 150 women were enrolled in the study but finally complete data were found from 120 women. This study assessed the menopausal symptoms with MRS (menopause rating scale) and sexual function using FSFI (female sexual function index). Inclusion criteria were age 45-55 years having husband and sexually active. We excluded women with severe illness like cancer and psychological illness. Participants were asked to fill up the MRS & FSFI tool by the doctors trained in menopause symptoms. Result: Regarding sexual dysfunction, 65.8% women of our study experienced sexual problems, FSFI <26.55 and (34.2%) had FSFI score > 26 indicating good sexual function. The incidence of hot flushes in our study showed 85.71%, night sweats (69.23%), insomnia 71%, Mood disorders 24.18%, Anxiety /irritability 19.78%, Vaginal dryness 67.03%, Dyspareunia 57%, Urgency/ frequency 17.6%, Back pain 21.98% and Muscular pain 15.40%. Only 17 % women took MHT, 53 % women did not use any of MHT and the rest were with MHT on irregular basis. The women who used MHT had good sexual function. Conclusion: The study showed, that psychosomatic complain was most common. A significant number of women suffered from GSM, This study also highlighted that 65 % women suffered from sexual dysfunction. So HCP need to evaluate menopause symptoms especially sexual dysfunction for all menopause women, whenever they come for consultation. Women who did not use MHT suffered more from sexual dysfunction. So there is ample opportunity to discuss about MHT with its prose and cones and offer them MHT along with life style modification.