The Relation of Attitudes towards Menopause of Postmenopausal and Premenopausal Women to Sexual Life and Quality of Life

Objective: The study examined the relation of postmenopausal and premenopausal women's attitudes towards menopause to sexual life and quality of life. Material and Method: The sample of this descriptive study consisted of a total of 322 married women who were in the postmenopausal (n=161) and premenopausal (n=161) periods. The data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Attitudes towards the Menopause Questionnaire (ATMQ), Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX), and Utian Quality of Life (UQOL) Scale. Results: There was a statistically significant positive relationship between postmenopausal women’s ATMQ scores and emotional quality of life subscale of UQOL (r=0.450; p=0.001) with postmenopausal women’s having negative relationship between ATMQ scores and occupational quality of life of UQOL (r=–0.342; p=0.001), and negative relationship between ATMQ scores and ASEX total scores (r=–0.310; p=0.001). Conclusion: Postmenopausal women had more negative health-related quality of life and sexual quality of life. As the positive attitudes of postmenopausal women towards menopause increased, their emotional quality of life increased, and their occupational quality of life decreased, and as their positive attitudes towards menopause decreased, their sexual quality of life levels were negatively affected. It is recommended by health professionals provide to help as postmenopausal married women develop positive attitudes toward menopause, to make regular follow-ups, and to provide educational and sexual counseling.