Psycho-Emotional Changes in Menopause: A Qualitative Study

Background and Women experiences of menopause are affected with cultural norms، social factors and their knowledge. Women’s image of menopause affects on take care of themselves during this period. Emotional and mental health care is essential but this is often overlooked. So assessment of life style، experiences، quality of life in menopause can be used to provide better care to women. The present study aimed to define and describe the process of psycho-emotional challenges in post menopausal women. This article was a part of a large qualitative study performed by grounded theory. Participants were menopausal women that referring to Beheshty‚ Amin and Motahari centers in Isfahan. Purposive recruitment was performed، and continued until data saturation. A total of 15 participants were chosen. The data were collected by depth semi-structured interviews & analysis was done through steruberts. The appeared core variable was «elderly sense». Psycho-emotional challenges were mainly initiative changes. The sub themes included mental problems after menopause‚ changed body image، negative and positive reactions to menopause and unprepared for menopause. The results showed menopausal women experience several psycho-emotional changes that most of them are related to elderly sense. This consequences show the need for management and careful planning for women’s health in this area. It seems extensive midwifery and psychology services can be use full for coordinating with menopausal changes.