The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility

The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility

The Relationship between Life Style with Vasomotor Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women Referred to Women's Training Health Centers in Mashhad in 2011

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mahboubeh Ghorbani 1
Sedigheh Azhari 2
Habibhollah Esmaili 3
Bahramali Ghanbari Hashemabadi 4
1 M.Sc. Student of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
2 Lecturer of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
3 Associate Professor, Department of Biostatistics, Health Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
4 Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
10.22038/ijogi.2013.542
Abstract
Introduction: Life style is one of the factors that affect on health. If it is unhealthy, it can cause severe chronic diseases and increase vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women. This study was done to determine the relationship between life style with vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women in women's training health centers in Mashhad.
Methods: This descriptive - analytical study was done on 400 postmenopausal women who referred to women's training health centers in Mashhad 2012. Sampling method was convenience.  Data were collected by a health promoting life style questionnaire (52 questions) and daily recording hot flushes and night sweats. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 16 and statistical test such as Pearson correlation coefficient, t-tests, ANOVA and linear regression analysis. P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The mean age of women in this study was 52.3±4.07 years and age of menopause was 48.8±1.5 years and final menstrual period was 3.85±1.5 years. 266 women (65.9%) experienced hot flushes. The highest score of behavioral aspects of life style was related to spiritual growth and responsibility to health and the lowest score was related to physical activity.
There were correlations between the overall score of life style and number of hot flushing (p=0.002), hot flushing period (p=0.010) and number of night sweats (p=0.034).
Conclusion: Healthy life style reduces vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women.
 
Keywords
Life style
Menopause
Vasomotor symptoms