Menopausia: qué conocen las mujeres / Menopause: what do women know

RESUMEN

Se encuestó un total de 109 mujeres mayores de 40 años, quienes definieron a la menopausia en un 44% como un proceso natural y en un 40% como el cese de la menstruación. El 74 % de las encuestadas precisó que la menopausia era de causa natural y un 55% que afectó su vida sexual; asimismo un 40% refirió dolor al tener relaciones sexuales, un 57% que el deseo sexual disminuyó y un 12 % aumentado. En lo referente a los cambios en el estado de ánimo manifestaron tristeza en un 37%. El 88% de las encuestadas refirió haber presentado por lo menos un síntoma. La distribución de los síntomas en orden de frecuencia de los que manifestaron tener al menos uno de ellos, son Bochornos 25%, Tristeza 17%, Soledad 15%, Insomnio 13% , Irritabilidad 13%, Dolor al tener relaciones sexuales 9%, Temblor 7%, Intento de suicidio 1%. El 45% refiere haber generado un cambio en su forma de vida y el 70% de la población estudiada no había recibido ningún tipo de información; un 86% de las encuestadas desearían recibir información y un 48% con una frecuencia de por lo menos una vez al mes.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this research was to determine knowledge about menopause in patients that go to the clinical practice at the Hospital de Puente Piedra, located 35 Km north of Lima, and whose population is mainly of a marginal urban area. A clinical interview was performed in 109 women over 40 between March-August 2005 that went to medical consultations to the different areas of the Hospital, asking them about their knowledge on menopause. Forty four percent of them considered menopause as a natural process and 40% considered menopause as the cessation of menstrual cycles. Seventy four percent of interviewed established menopause as a natural cause and 55% that it affected their sexual life. Also, 40% referred having pain at the moment of sexual intercourse, 57% that their sexual desire diminished and 12% that it increased. Related to mood changes, 37% manifested being sad, 88% referred presenting at least one symptom. Distribution of symptoms according to their frequency (admitting having at least one of them); hot flashes (25%), sadness (17%), loneliness (15%), insomnia (13%), irritability (13%), pain at sexual intercourse (9%), tremors (7%), suicidal attempts (1%). Forty five percent refers changes in their lifestyle and 70% of the population studied had not received any type of information, 86% of interviewed would like to receive information and 48% would like to receive information with a frequency of at least once a month. The population studied accepts menopause as menstrual cycle cessation and as a natural process, recognizes symptoms with changes in their lifestyle and have no IEC about this matter.