title: Negotiating the maze: the meaning of perimenopause.
abstract: What does it mean for a woman to experience perimenopause? Some women pass through perimenopause with relative ease while others report hot flashes and multiple disruptive symptoms. The physiological, psychological, and social variables that influence women during the change of life have not been fully examined. Using a phenomenological method of inquiry, this study explored the reflective, lived experiences of 3 perimenopausal women. Interpretation of the data revealed five explanatory themes: (1) Unpredictable Symptoms; (2) Lack of Information; (3) Influence of Others; (4) Fear of Growing Old; and (5) Making the Transition. The results of this study may be obtained from the author: dbfnp@yahoo.com.
authors.affiliation: dbfnp@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baird
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002979:Climacteric / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D036301:Qualitative Research; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*