Factors Affecting the Quality of Life in Climacteric Women

Objectives: To determine the factors affecting theseverity of menopausal symptoms and the qualityof life among women living in Manisa, a westerncity of Turkey.Patients and Methods: After statistical estimationof the sample size reflecting the whole population,268 climacteric women (mean age 50.7±6.6 years;range 40 to 60 years) with menopausal symptomswere investigated by sociodemographic questionnaire,menopause rating scale (MRS), and Qualityof Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF-TR) in Celal BayarUniversity Hospital.Results: Almost 1/3 of women had no knowledgeon menopause. The MRS scores of womenwere inversely correlated with Physical Health,Psychological well-being, Social Relationshipdomains of quality of life. Educational level, menopausalknowledge, participation in decision-makingin the family and economic status positively affectedmost domains of quality of life, whereas beingmarried and having high BMI scores had negativeeffects.Conclusion: In climacteric women, quality oflife was negatively affected by the severity ofmenopausal symptoms, low education level,limited menopausal knowledge, and being overweight.