Assessment of the variation in menopausal symptoms with age, education and working/non-working status in north-Indian sub population using menopause rating scale (MRS)

Abstract

Objective: To study the variation of the menopause rating scale (MRS) scores with age, working/non-working and educated/uneducated status in a cohort of north-Indian subpopulation and to look for the possible reasons for the incurred variations. MRS is a well-known and validated instrument for assessing the frequency and intensity of menopausal symptoms.

Method: A menopause clinic was organized in collaboration with a primary care centre (under the guidance of a gynecologist). A random sample of 208 women aged 35-65 years participated in the study. The MRS scale, a self-administered standardized questionnaire was applied with additional patient related information (age at menopause, level of education, working/non-working and exercising or not).

Results: The results were evaluated for psychological (P), somatic (S), and urogenital (U) symptoms. The average age at which menopause set in, in the cohort was found to be 48.7+/-2.3 years (46.4-51 years). Based on the average age at the menopause, the cohort was divided into peri (35-45), menopausal/early menopause (46-51) and the postmenopausal (52-65) groups. A significantly higher % of perimenopausal women (36%) showed a P score of > or =7; while a higher % of postmenopausal showed S score and U score > or =7 (>40%; p< or =0.001). Working women seem to suffer more from psychological symptoms whereas non-working women showed a greater incidence of somatic symptoms. Educated women showed a lower incidence of psychological and somatic symptoms.

Conclusions: Present study indicates that age, level of education and working/non-working status (in a group of women with same socio-cultural background) may also contribute to significant variations in menopausal symptoms.