Abstract:
Menopause is a significant stage in a woman’s life, marking the end of her
reproductive years and the cessation of monthly menstrual cycles. It generally
occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, with natural menopause defined as 12
consecutive months without menstruation. Hormonal changes associated with
menopause can affect physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being. The
objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of physical, emotional,
and cognitive changes associated with the onset of menopause by recruiting a
sample from the Gampaha District. Data were collected using a cross-sectional,
self-reported, closed-ended questionnaire. One hundred and five postmenopausal
individuals were randomly recruited, and their physical, emotional, and cognitive
health parameters were assessed. Physical health parameters included high blood
pressure, heart disease, osteoporosis, constipation, urinary tract infections, and
vasomotor symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats. Psychological and
cognitive parameters were evaluated based on sleep disturbances, anger levels,
mood states, feelings of sadness, and difficulty concentrating. The results show
that 67.6% developed high blood pressure, 40% developed heart disease, and
72.4% developed these changes after menopause. In terms of body composition,
56.2% gained weight and 54.3% gained abdominal fat. Among 61 individuals
diagnosed with osteoporosis, 65.6% developed the condition after menopause.
Regarding vasomotor symptoms, 60.6% of 104 individuals experienced hot
flushes and night sweats, 60.6% developed constipation, and 51.9% experienced
urinary tract infections after menopause. Significant prevalence of physical,
psychological, and cognitive health changes was observed among individuals after
menopause, indicating that hormonal changes significantly impact women’s
overall health. Specifically, 83.6% experienced sleep disturbances, 87.6% became
easily angered, 76.2% experienced a low mood in previously enjoyed activities,
76.1% frequently felt sadness, and 86.6% reported difficulty concentrating. This
study concludes that hormonal changes during menopause lead to a high
prevalence of physical, psychological, and cognitive changes in most women.
Awareness of these changes, along with maintaining healthy dietary, physical, and
mental behaviours, may help women adapt more effectively.
