Impact of Menopausal Transition and Postmenopause on Physical and Mental Health and Its Association with the Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Menopause is permanent cessation of menses for a year due to loss of ovarian follicular activity due to estrogen deficiency and not associated to any pathology. Premenopause is a period of regular or irregular menses before menopause or perimenopause when the female is still capable of reproduction. Perimenopause is a period from immediately prior to menopause (when biological, endocrinological & clinical features begin) to at least one year after menopause. Postmenopause is the period after the menopause. Menopause transition is a period starting from first irregular menses or skipped menstrual period to final menstrual period. Menopause Transition is associated with a lot of changes: Hormonal changes, particularly the decline in estrogen, are linked to symptoms such as hot flashes, fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances, and other changes like reproductive status, appearance, bodily functions, expectations, social circumstances, & relationships. These, in turn, can affect a woman’s quality of life (QOL)  The menopause transition is roughly divided into 2 phases, which are initially based on menstrual patterns. The early transition is characterized by a small increase in prevalence of common menstrual symptoms, but perturbation of cycles is minimal, with women having at least 1 menstrual cycle within past 3 months. A woman has entered the early menopausal transition when she experiences a >7days difference, when the interval of amenorrhea > 60 days she has entered the late menopause transition & when 12 months have passed since a woman’s last menses is the early postmenopause .Physical Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity [4]. Postmenopausal musculoskeletal pain is generally associated with reduction of the ovarian function, where there is decline in the production of mainly estrogen hormone. Estrogen deficiency leads to increased cartilage wear and tear and joint surface erosion, reduction in bone mineral density, loss of muscle mass and strength, decrease in the collagen content of connective tissues which further leads to impairment in the muscle performance and functional capacity.The current study seeks to evaluate the physical and mental health status of women during the menopausal transition and postmenopause and explore its association with quality of life using validated assessment tools. The study will also examine factors like physical activity levels and body mass index (BMI) that may modify these associations.

Aim of the study: To assess the physical and mental health status of women during the menopausal transition and postmenopause and determine its association with quality of life.