Ray, Elizabeth;
Maybin, Jacqueline A;
Harper, Joyce C;
(2023)
Perimenopausal women's voices: How does their period at the end of reproductive life affect wellbeing?
Post Reproductive Health
10.1177/20533691231216162.
(In press).
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore perimenopausal women's feelings towards their periods, the impact on their wellbeing and how we can support them. STUDY DESIGN: Participants were recruited for focus groups through social media advertisements. In 6 online focus groups, 31 perimenopausal women aged 40-55 living in the UK were asked 5 questions relating to periods and perimenopause, support and education. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Content analysis. RESULTS: When asked How do you feel about having a period? The participants often related back to the stress of menarche and said their period negatively impacted their wellbeing their whole lives. During perimenopause, their periods had become unpredictable, heavy, and a debilitating disruption to their lives. The women desired support at work through policy, and from family and friends. They believed that educating girls and boys during school was the best place to start, but that education through work and community groups was also needed. They felt healthcare professionals should have mandatory training regarding women's health issues and menopause. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the impact of menstrual experiences on the wellbeing of perimenopausal women, emphasising the need for improved menstrual education from an early age. Comprehensive menstrual education in schools involving both genders to enable informed decision-making and improved training for healthcare professionals are recommended. Support networks for perimenopausal women will promote better quality of life for women as they go through their perimenopause journey.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Perimenopausal women's voices: How does their period at the end of reproductive life affect wellbeing? |
| Location: | United States |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1177/20533691231216162 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1177/20533691231216162 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | © The Author(s) 2023. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). |
| Keywords: | heavy, menstruation, perimenopause, period, unpredictable, wellbeing |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL EGA Institute for Womens Health UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL EGA Institute for Womens Health > Reproductive Health |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10182288 |
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