INVESTIGATION OF THE PREVALENCE OF PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH MENOPAUSE AMONG WOMEN IN THE GAMPAHA DISTRICT

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.