FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS IN MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN PRESENTING IN A TERTIARY CARE SETTING

Abstract

Background: Menopause is a natural transition in women’s life associated with diverse physical, psychological, and urogenital symptoms that may significantly affect quality of life. Objective: To determine the frequency and severity of menopausal symptoms in middle-aged women presenting in a tertiary care setting. Methodology: This hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shalamar Hospital, Lahore, from March 2026 to June 2026, including 245 women aged 40–60 years selected through non-probability purposive sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire based on the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Results: Among 245 participants, the most common symptoms were sleep problems (80.82%), fatigue/exhaustion (76.73%), hot flushes and sweating (75.92%), and joint/muscular pain (71.02%). Moderate symptoms were reported in 39.18% of women, while 24.08% had severe and 7.35% had very severe symptoms. The mean total MRS score was 22.39 ± 6.87. Menopausal symptoms affected daily activities in 71.84% of participants, and 57.55% did not seek medical care. Quality of life was reported as poor in 25.72% of women. Conclusion: Menopausal symptoms are highly prevalent among middle-aged women and significantly impact daily functioning and quality of life.