Evaluating the relationship between the attitude toward menopause and sexual function in postmenopausal women

Abstract

Introduction & Background: Menopause is considered a crisis in women's lives as it causes several problems for them in the long term. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between the attitude toward menopause and sexual function in postmenopausal women. Methods: This cross-sectional and analytical study was conducted on 396 postmenopausal women referring to health centers. They were selected using a convenience sampling method. The data collection tools included the demographic characteristics questionnaire, the female sexual function index (FSFI), and the Neugarten attitude toward menopause questionnaire. The data were analyzed in SPSS-18 software at a significance level of 0.5 using descriptive and analytical methods. Results: : The results revealed that the mean height of the subjects was 68 +/- 14.73 years and the mean duration of menopause was 7.85 +/- 7.05 years. Also, 32.5 of the subjects had a desirable sexual function, and 64 of women had a negative attitude toward menopause. No significant relationship was observed between sexual function and attitude toward menopause. Conclusion: : Women's attitude toward menopause was negative and low. Most menopausal women suffer from sexual dysfunction. These results indicate that optimal and efficient educational planning is necessary to change women's attitudes and improve the level of their health and quality of life.