Table 3 Positive and Negative Perceptions towards menopause according to menopausal status among Sarawak women (N = 324)
From: Perception of menopause among women of Sarawak, Malaysia
Perception of menopause | Premenopausal (n = 90; 27.8%) Perimenopausal (n = 124; 38.5%) Postmenopausal (n = 110; 33.7%) | p value | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Agreen (%) | Disagree n (%) | Not Sure n (%) | Agree n (%) | Disagree n (%) | Not Sure n (%) | Agree n (%) | Disagree n (%) | Not Sure n (%) | ||
Positive perceptions | ||||||||||
Menopause is a natural process | 43 (47.7) | 15 (16.6) | 32 (35.5) | 18 (14.5) * | 11 (8.8) | 95 (76.6) | 12 (10.9) | 18 (16.3) | 80 (72.7) | < 0.05 |
Natural approaches for menopausal symptoms are better than hormonal | 28 (31.1) | 4 (4.4) | 58 (64.4) | 39 (31.4) § | 6 (4.8) | 79 (63.7) | 38 (34.5) | 8 (7.2) | 64 (58.1) | < 0.05 |
Absence of menses after menopause is a relief | 69 (76.6) | 1 (1.1) | 20 (22.2) | 70 (56.4) | 0 (0) | 54 (43.5) | 104 (94.5) † | 1 (0.9) | 5 (4.5) | < 0.05 |
After menopause, no changes in sex enjoyment | 4 (4.4) | 18 (20) | 68 (75.5) | 2 (1.6) | 15 (12) | 107 (86.2) | 3 (2.7) | 17 (15.4) | 90 (81.8) | |
Not to be worried about pregnancy | 37 (41.1) | 4 (4.4) | 49 (54.4) | 23 (18.5)** | 1 (0.8) | 100 (80.6) | 31 (28.1)** | 2 (1.8) | 77 (70) | < 0.05 |
Negative perceptions | ||||||||||
Menopause should be treated medically | 29 (32.2) | 12 (13.3) | 49 (54.4) | 24 (19.3) | 8 (6.4) | 92 (74.1) | 18 (16.3) | 9 (8.1) | 8375.4) | |
Women are less sexually attractive after the menopause | 42 (54.4) | 17 (18.8) | 31 (34.4) | 31 (25) | 11 (8.8) | 82 (66.1) | 40 (36.3) | 16 (14.5) | 54 (49) | |
Feels less of a woman following menopause | 32 (35.5) | 26 (28.8) | 32 (35.5) | 19 (15.3) ** | 31 (25) | 74 (59.6) | 28 (25.4) ** | 23 (20.9) | 59 (53.6) | < 0.05 |
Menopause causes unpleasant symptoms | 78 (86.8) | 0 (0) | 12 (13.3) | 69 (55.6) | 0 (0) | 55 (44.3) | 51 (46.3) | 0 (0) | 59 (53.6) | |
Changes in life during menopause are stressful | 29 (32.2) | 2 (2.2) | 59 (65.5) | 38 (30.6) | 0 (0) | 86 (69.3) | 22 (20) | 1 (0.9) | 87 (79) | |