Perimenopausal symptoms in Sri Lankan women.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the types of perimenopausal symptoms (PMS) associated with the natural menopause and to make a preliminary assessment of the influence of PMS on household work, employment duties and social life, since no published data are available regarding these aspects in Sri Lankan women.


METHODS
A cross-sectional descriptive study of 403 women after natural menopause chosen randomly from four selected groups.


METHODS
A pre-tested coded questionnaire administered by trained women medical students to consenting menopausal women.


RESULTS
An overwhelming majority of menopausal women (87.1%) had one or more PMS. The principal PMS reported were insomnia (57.8%), joint pains (55.8%), night sweats (55.6%), hot flushes (40.2%), irritability (35.3%) and headaches (33.3%). Of the 171 women employed outside the home, 38% noted some interference with employment duties. PMS causes much morbidity in Sri Lankan perimenopausal women.
Goonaratna
C
C
Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.
Fonseka
P
P
Wijeywardene
K
K
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007508:Irritable Mood; D017533:Marital Status; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013546:Sweating
D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal