Features of Menopause and Menopausal Age among Saudi Women

Al Mehdar, Amor Abdullah; Zaki O, Hariri,Mohammad; Alotaibi, Fay Ali F; AL Alyani, Turki Ali Abdullah; Matary, Naseem Ahmad M; Bakri, Mohammed Atiah Ahmed; AlQahtani, Jaman Hassan; Alsalami, Sultan Essa; Ahmed A, Alharbi, Abrar; Althagafi, Hussam Muidh; Majrshi, Samirah Nasser A; Mahdi, Laila Mossa; Alghamdi, Faisal Saleh; Sattam, Munirah Abdulrahman H

doi:10.12816/0042570

Features of Menopause and Menopausal Age among Saudi Women

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ GP Ministry of Health

² PHC, Makkah

³ King Abdulaziz University

⁴ Abha Psychiatric Hospital

⁵ King Khalid University (KKU)

⁶ Abu - Arish Al-Janoubi Primary Health Care

⁷ King Dahad Armed Forces Hospital

⁸ Maternity & Children's Hospital in Jeddah

⁹ Western Al-Azizia Primary Health Care Center

¹⁰ Primary Health Care in Al-Jumum- Makkah

¹¹ Aseer Central Hospital

10.12816/0042570

Abstract

Background: Menopause is the estimated end of reproductive life. Having a positive attitude towards it has been shown to outcome in a positive experience, whereas a negative attitude is connected with negative experiences and symptoms. Conventionally, women regularly abstain from sex after menopause.
Purpose: The study aimed to determine the level of awareness and perceptions about the menopause and sex in perimenopausal women attending a general outpatient clinic.
Methods: Women over 40 years were enlisted from the Family Medicine Department of King Abdulaziz Hospital, excluding those who were menopausal. Data analyses were done with chi-square test (P<0.05).
The study was done according to the ethical board of Umm Al Qura university.
Results: Most (151; 85.8%) of the 176 surveyed participants were aware of the menopause. Only 36.1% anticipated associated symptoms. About half (55.68%) were indifferent to menopause onset, while 23.3% had a positive attitude and 21.11% had a negative attitude, respectively. Younger women were less likely to have a positive attitude to the menopause (P=0.04). There were negative cultural beliefs towards sex. Sexual activity was low and declined with age (P<0.001). Many women would like treatment to improve their sexual activity.
Conclusion: Most participants had a favourable disposition towards the menopause, though sexual relationships suffer. Counselling and treatment should be offered.

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