Menopause in Sagamu, southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Background: As woman ages there is associated decline in her ovarian function until there is eventual cessation of menstruation (the menopause). Menopause is associated with alteration in the physiological, biochemical and psychological environment of the woman, the perception of which varies among women based on their sociocultural, educational and racial factors.

Objective: To demonstrate average age at menopause and common menopausal complaints most commonly experienced by our menopausal women.

Design: A questionnaire based descriptive cross-sectional study of 402 women aged between 44 and 65 years attending out-patient clinics and who had experienced at least 24 continuous months of amenorrhoea.

Setting: Study was undertaken at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, a tertiary health institution in southwestern Nigeria.

Method: Women aged between 44 and 65 years and whose last menstruation was at least 24 months earlier were interviewed using structured questionnaire.

Results:Four hundred and two out of 410 women interviewed correctly answered the questionnaire for analysis, (mean age 53.59 ⚜ 5.12 years). The mean age of menopause was 48.91±2.58 years (range 41-57 years). The median and the modal ages at menopause were 49.00 years. Two hundred and twelve (52.7%) women experienced no symptoms. Of the 190 women that experienced symptoms hot flushes was the symptom that was most commonly experienced, and the least was depression; no respondent reported any episode of fracture.

Conclusion: The mean age at menopause in our practice is lower than the global average. Menopause in our women is commonly complaints free. The less parous and more educated a woman the poorer her perception of menopausal symptoms.