Evaluation of health related quality of life among perimenopausal Turkish women

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate life quality and the related factors among women in menopause in Edirne, Turkey. Methods: A questionnaire querying socio-demographic features and menopause status together with the SF-36 inventory and women's health questionnaire to evaluate life quality were applied to 410 women aged between 40 and 59 years living in Edirne, Turkey. Results: Mean natural menopause age of the participants was 46.24 years. Bone mineral density was measured in 50.5%, mammography was performed in 52.4%, Pap smear was obtained in 52.7% and breast exam was performed in 54.1% of the participants. Among the menopausal and postmenopausal women, only 4.9% were using hormone replacement therapy currently. However, past hormone replacement therapy usage history was 23.6%. Women using medications to prevent osteoporosis made 25.6% of the sample. Advanced age, having less education, low socioeconomic level and being at the peri-or post-menopausal phase demonstrated a negative effect on the quality of life. Tobacco use, obesity and presence of chronic diseases were also found to adversely effect the quality of life, as well. Conclusion: Improving education and socioeconomic level with initiating preventive health care at earlier ages would improve health related quality of life among postmenopausal women.