Symptom Burden and Quality of Life in Postmenopausal Women: Observational Evidence

Abstract

Background: Menopause significantly impacts women's quality of life, particularly in developing nations where cultural factors and limited healthcare access compound symptom burden. This study assessed menopausal symptoms and quality of life among postmenopausal women using the validated Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire. Methods: A hospital-based observational study was conducted at SMS Medical College, Jaipur, involving 170 postmenopausal women aged 40-54 years. Data were collected using structured interviews covering sociodemographic profiles and the MENQOL questionnaire, which evaluates vasomotor, psychosocial, physical, and sexual domains. Statistical analysis included unpaired t-tests and chi-square tests with significance set at p<0.05. Results: Participants had a mean age of 47.29±4.15 years, with 67.6% from rural areas and 75.3% having primary education or less. Menopausal symptoms showed high prevalence across all domains: physical symptoms were most common with muscle/joint pain (80.0%), followed by psychosocial symptoms including poor memory (79.4%) and decreased accomplishment (78.2%). Sexual dysfunction was nearly universal, with 92.8% avoiding intimacy. The mean total MENQOL score was 63.11±10.06, indicating moderate quality of life impairment. Education showed strong inverse correlation with symptom severity (p<0.001), while lower socioeconomic status was associated with higher symptom burden across all domains (p=0.001). Surprisingly, symptoms were more severe in women >5 years post-menopause. Conclusion: Postmenopausal women, particularly those from rural, low-educated, and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, experience significant symptom burden affecting quality of life. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions addressing social determinants of health and comprehensive menopausal care programs in developing countries.