Care for women in menopause
The menopause signals the end of a woman's reproductive ability. So it represents the end of her need for contraception, but also the beginning of a new era in which changes in metabolism and psyche may become prominent. A woman's earlier health status, reproductive patterns, life style and environmental factors largely determine her health status at menopause. It is well accepted that socio-cultural characteristics may affect the onset of menopause and its characteristics. Menopause may have a significant effect on women's quality of life. Due to the resulting lack of female hormones, women suffer from various kinds of physical and psychological problems. Many studies found different health problems in women to some extent. Bangladesh Institute of Research for Promotion of Essential & Reproductive Health and Technologies (BIRPERHT) conducted a study on menopausal women. Among the respondents, 71.1% had depression, 41.4% had waist pain, 34% had experienced sudden warm sensation, 22.8% showed vertigo, 10.5% showed burning sensation in hands/feet, 10.7% occurred swelling. Various mental problems were reported by the women during menopause like restlessness, ill temperament, increased feeling of stress, insomnia etc. Few months ago, I talked to some slum dwellers menopausal women in Dhaka city about different aspects of end of reproductive years and found many problems they were living with in silence. Menopause is a largely neglected issue in public health of developing countries like Bangladesh. Women towards the end of reproductive years suffer from various physical and psychological problems. Menopause is associated with increase risk of cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis and ovarian, breast and uterine cancer. Anxiety and depression are also associated with menopause. So it is an important life event that warrant special health care at that time. In this country, there is very limited awareness of menopause and its consequences. Programmes should be undertaken in the community level involving women, men and health service providers. Health programme should pay adequate attention on the emergency of this issue. Information on various aspects of end of reproductive health should be disseminated to menopausal women. Education and awareness may help to make this neglected part of their life meaningful and worth living. The writer works in BIRPERHT.
E-mail: shameemtamanna@gmail.com
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments