Prevalence of menopausal symptoms and quality of life after menopause in women from South India

Objectives: This study was carried out to establish the age at onset of menopause and the prevalence of menopause and menopausal symptoms in South Indian women. Materials and methods: Three hundred and fifty-two postmenopausal women attending the outpatient clinics of obstetrics and gynaecology department of Dr TMA Pai Hospital, a tertiary care Hospital in South India, were included in the study. The Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire was used in the study. Data were presented as percentages for qualitative variable. Results: The mean age at menopause was 48.7 years. Most frequent menopausal symptoms were aching in muscle and joints, feeling tired, poor memory, lower backache and difficulty in sleeping. The vasomotor and sexual domains were less frequently complained when compared to physical and psychological domains. Conclusion: The age at onset of menopause in southern Karnataka (India) is 48.7 years which is four years more than the mean menopause age for Indian women. This could be attributed to better socioeconomic and health-care facility in this region.