Climacteric symptoms and lifestyle among middle-aged women

Abstract

Introduction: the clinical expression of the climacteric syndrome is associated with the lifestyles of women. Sociocultural, environmental and occupational factors influence the quality of life.
Objective: identify the relationship between perception of climacteric symptoms and lifestyle in the middle-aged women studied.
Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional non-experimental study was conducted at Consultation Office 17 of Luis A. Turcios Lima Polyclinic, in the municipality of 10 de Octubre, from 1 June 2014 to 31 May 2015. Interviews were conducted with 91 women aged 40-59. Two surveys were applied: one to gauge the intensity of the climacteric syndrome and the other to study lifestyle.
Results: with respect to perception of climacteric symptoms, one fourth of the patients were asymptomatic. Mild symptoms were perceived by 37.4%. Almost all the women who had a healthy lifestyle were either asymptomatic or their perception of symptoms was mild; 42.8% had either moderate or intense symptoms. In the health area there was a predominance of white women of the 55-59 age group who were workers and university graduates.
Conclusions: an unhealthy lifestyle is associated with a climacteric syndrome of moderate to high intensity. Inadequate physical conditions, a low self-esteem and lack of free time are related to a greater intensity of the climacteric syndrome.