ASSESSMENT OF POSTIMENOPAUSAL PROBLEMS AMONG WOMEN IN RURAL AREA

Abstract

. Menopause is the permanent cessation of menses that occur after the cessation of ovarian function, the climacteric is a phase in the aging process of women that marks the tr nsition from the reproductive stage of life the non reprqductive stage, and during the cessation ofthe ovarian function.

Although menopause . Is a natural event, the years immediately before the -decades after ward are of much greater clinical significance, it can be uneventful or a time of significant symptoms.

Menqp<j.use occurs at the age of 45-55 years, the age of menopause appears to be determineq genetically and is not seen to J?e related to race, nutritional status and age of menarche however it may occur earlier in cigarette smokers, in some women who have had hysterectomies and nulliparous women.

The mam mechanism underlying the menqpause is the depletion of the store of primordial follicle, another mechanism, namely loss of follicular responsiveness to the pituitary gonadotrophins, this is supported by the! presence of residual,