Maryam Abdoshahi
Abstract
Background: The effects of participation in sports and physical activities on mental health in menopausal women have been less examined. Therefore, the goal of the current research was to further investigate the effects of participation in sports and physical activities using a Pilates training intervention ...
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Background: The effects of participation in sports and physical activities on mental health in menopausal women have been less examined. Therefore, the goal of the current research was to further investigate the effects of participation in sports and physical activities using a Pilates training intervention on mental health and happiness among menopausal women.Methods: The current research used an experimental method with pre-test and post-test using a control group. Thirty-two menopausal women from Tehran (district 5), Iran, in 2022, who were chosen using a convenience sampling method, participated in the study. The intervention group (n=16) was exposed to three months of Pilates exercises, while those in the control group (n=16) performed their regular daily activities. Mental health and happiness were measured using The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 and The Oxford-Happiness Inventory, respectively, prior to and following the intervention. Independent t-test and analysis of covariance using SPSS version 26 were utilized to analyze the data.Results: The results showed similar mental health and happiness within both groups at baseline. Moreover, the results revealed that our sample had medium to high symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress at pretest. Furthermore, the participants in the intervention group reported lower depression (P<0.001), anxiety (P<0.001), and stress (P<0.001) as well as higher happiness (P<0.001) following the intervention than the control group.Conclusions: Based on our findings, it is recommended that menopausal women participate in various sports training courses such as Pilates to improve their mental health status.
Khadija Kahlout; Aymen Elsous; Aseel Alshorafa; Mariam Ghazal; Rima Yaghi; Ezat Askari
Abstract
Background: Menopause is accompanied with symptoms that could be bothersome to the point that quality of life can be affected. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of menopausal symptoms and quality of life among women in their peri- and post-menopausal phase.Methods: This quantitative ...
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Background: Menopause is accompanied with symptoms that could be bothersome to the point that quality of life can be affected. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of menopausal symptoms and quality of life among women in their peri- and post-menopausal phase.Methods: This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted from February to August 2022 on 332 peri-menopausal (n=162) and post-menopausal (n=170) women aged 45-55 years. They were recruited from the women who visited primary health centers in the East Gaza governorate using convenience sampling. The menopausal rating scale and a validated Arabic World Health Organization Quality of life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) were used. Descriptive and inferential analysis were applied and P<0.05 was considered as the level of statistical significance.Results: The mean (SD) of the Menopausal Rating Scale (MRS) score was 2.27±0.49 vs 1.90±0.55 in the post-menopausal and peri-menopausal women, respectively. The most prevalent symptom was joint and muscle problems in peri-menopause (45.7%) and post-menopause (67.6%). The mean score of Quality of Life (QoL) dimensions, namely physical, social, environmental, and psychological domains was lower among the post-menopausal women compared to that among the peri-menopausal ones (3.19±0.73 vs 3.44±0.80, 3.46±0.72 vs 3.62±0.71, 3.50±0.60 vs 3.52±0.62, and 3.59±0.75 vs 3.68±0.77, respectively). Quality of life as well as the associated physical and social aspects were found to be significantly associated with menopausal symptoms (P=0.003 and P=0.048, respectively). Age (51–55 years; P<0.001), marital status (widowed/divorced; P=0.044), income (<300USD; P<0.001), and post-menopausal status (P<0.001) were significantly associated with severity of menopausal symptoms.Conclusions: Menopausal symptoms are common in the post-menopausal status. Their severity was found to increase as menopause status progressed. Psychological symptoms were the most severe symptoms reflecting the need for proper psychological supporting efforts. Menopausal symptoms with severe manifestations impair the quality of life and are associated with socio-demographic and clinical variables.
Arezu Farzaneh; Maryam Koushkie Jahromi; Mohsen Salesi; Robabeh Rostami
Abstract
Background: Menopausal symptoms severely affect a woman’s lifestyle and health. Lifestyle, including physical activity, is known to be an effective factor on the menopausal-associated symptoms. We conducted the present study to evaluate the effects of an eight-week Pilates training on menopausal-related ...
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Background: Menopausal symptoms severely affect a woman’s lifestyle and health. Lifestyle, including physical activity, is known to be an effective factor on the menopausal-associated symptoms. We conducted the present study to evaluate the effects of an eight-week Pilates training on menopausal-related symptoms, including somatic, psychological and sexual symptoms, body mass index (BMI), and anxiety as possible effective factors on menopausal symptoms. Methods: This was an experimental study conducted in the summer of 2020. The participants in this study were 27 postmenopausal women (aged 60-65, BMI: 24-30) who participated in the study voluntarily. They were randomly divided into two groups of control (n=12) and exercise (n=15). The subjects in the training group participated in Pilates training for eight weeks, three sessions per week and each session lasted 75 minutes with progressive intensity. BMI was measured and the participants completed anxiety and depression questionnaires (HADS) and menopausal symptoms rating scale (MRS) before and after the exercises. We utilized paired t-test and analysis of co-variance (ANCOVA) to analyze the data. Results: BMI (P=0.023), anxiety (p <0.001), physical score (p <0.001), psychological score (P=0.001), and the total (p <0.001) score of menopausal symptoms reduced significantly following Pilates training compared to the control group. No significant changes were observed in the sexual symptoms of menopause following Pilates training compared to the control group (P=0.60). Conclusion: An eight-week Pilates training reduced most of the postmenopausal symptoms (somatic, psychological, and total) as well as potentially aggravating menopausal symptoms, including anxiety and BMI
Keon-Cheol Lee
Abstract
Female sex hormones are thought to be important in the histological and functional maintenance of the genitourinary tract. Estrogen deficiency after menopause may be related to urinary symptoms. Postmenopausal atrophic changes cause genital and urinary deterioration and reduce sexual health, resulting ...
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Female sex hormones are thought to be important in the histological and functional maintenance of the genitourinary tract. Estrogen deficiency after menopause may be related to urinary symptoms. Postmenopausal atrophic changes cause genital and urinary deterioration and reduce sexual health, resulting in an overactive bladder. Ovariectomized virgin rats appear to be an optimal postmenopausal animal model, as they are free of the confounding effects of delivery and advancing age. Although the exact mechanisms of postmenopausal bladder dysfunction are undetermined, decreased vascularity has been introduced as the primary event resulting in atrophy, with possible underlying mechanisms, which can explain bladder dysfunction. Local administration of estrogen seems to be effective in the management of urinary symptoms in postmenopausal women, and this route of administration has the advantage of alleviating the adverse side effects of systemic replacement.
Mostafa Chashmposh; Saeed Shirali; Esmaeel Ebrahimi; Alireza Barari
Abstract
Context: Menopause is characterized by amenorrhea and increase in the level of Follicular Stimulating Hormone (FSH) due to the permanent cessation of ovarian function. This process causes changes in hormonal and other serum markers. Depression is the leading cause of disease-related disabilities in women.
Objectives: ...
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Context: Menopause is characterized by amenorrhea and increase in the level of Follicular Stimulating Hormone (FSH) due to the permanent cessation of ovarian function. This process causes changes in hormonal and other serum markers. Depression is the leading cause of disease-related disabilities in women.
Objectives: The aim of this review was to investigate the correlation between hormonal and petrochemical changes and depression with menopausal status.
Data Sources: We searched in Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science and Scopus, Embase, the reference lists of all related studies and major relevant review articles from 1960 to October 2014, and also abstracts from associated congresses and meetings, using terms related to hormonal and serum markers, depression and its symptoms.
Study Selection: The survey included prospective, retrospective and case-control studies. The selected studies explored menopause in study population and investigated variables and different markers in depression or anxiety, as well as those measuring depression or anxiety intensity.
Data Extraction: Items for which data were extracted included the date and place of publication, study design, sources, human species, age, control groups, selection and appraisal methods, outcome measurement tools, and author’s conclusions. One investigator (Mostafa Chashmposh) collected the relevant reports, whereas two other authors independently reviewed the published data and reported different hormonal markers related to depression as evaluated by different studies. Disagreements were resolved by the fourth reviewer’s decision.
Results: The period of menopause is mostly associated with a gradual decline of estrogen activity and increased secretion of nocturnal melatonin. During menopausal transition, overnight cortisol levels were associated with changes in estrone glucuronide, testosterone, and FSH levels. In addition, whole blood serotonin concentration is reduced during menopause. Furthermore, lipid markers including total and LDL cholesterol levels increase during perimenopause. Moreover, plasma Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor (BDNF) concentration decreases significantly in postmenopausal period. Based on different studies, the reduction of hormones including estrogen, serotonin and BDNF during menopause are associated with depression in women. Further studies documented the relationship between depressed mood symptoms and cortisol levels.
Conclusions: The available evidence suggests that transition to menopause and its changing hormonal and other serum markers are strongly associated with depressed mood among women.
Maryam Rabiee; Malihah Nasirie; Nafisah Zafarqandie
Abstract
Background: One of the most common problems of women especially during transient menopause and post menopause is reduction in sexual desire which affects their social and psychological health.
Objectives: The present study attempted to evaluate the impact of some personal and social factors, common ...
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Background: One of the most common problems of women especially during transient menopause and post menopause is reduction in sexual desire which affects their social and psychological health.
Objectives: The present study attempted to evaluate the impact of some personal and social factors, common age-related complaints, and follicular stimulating hormone and estradiol on sexual desire.
Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 201 females, aged 45-60 years old, without any history of psychological illness, and not receiving any hormone therapy including estrogen-progesterone. They filled three questionnaires; menopausal rating scale (MRS), symptom checklist 90 and their sexual interests and demographic characteristics. The data were analyzed using Pearson Chi-square tests and logistic regression (using SPSS 18).
Results: A deceasing sexual desire was observed in 34.7% of the cases. A statistically significant relationship was found between reduced sexual desire and physical complaints and mood changes including anxiety and depression. Women who were widowed or divorced exhibited a significantly higher reduction in sexual desire. There was a significant correlation between sexual satisfaction and sexual desire. However, no significant relationship was observed between sexual desire and hot flashes, dyspareunia and level of estradiol and FSH.
Conclusions: Mental and physical health of women and their sexual satisfaction play a more effective role in predicting sexual desire, regardless of age and hormonal changes during this period.
Simin Taavoni; Neda Nazem Ekbatani; Hamid Haghani
Abstract
Background: Sleep disturbance is common in menopausal women. Objectives: This study aimed to measure the rate of self-reported sleep disturbance and to identify its associated factors in 50-60 year-old women. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 700 healthy volunteer women aged 50 ...
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Background: Sleep disturbance is common in menopausal women. Objectives: This study aimed to measure the rate of self-reported sleep disturbance and to identify its associated factors in 50-60 year-old women. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 700 healthy volunteer women aged 50 to 60 years, who were in postmenopausal period for at least 1 year. The participants were interviewed after obtaining informed consents. The study questionnaire covered two main aspects of personal characteristics and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Data was analyzed using SPSS 14 software. Results: The frequency of sleep disturbance was 62.5%. A significant association was found between sleep disturbance and characteristics of occupation, education, financial status and husband’s profession. There were no significant association between sleep disturbance and other personal characteristics, such as age, partner’s age, number of children, family size and consumption of tea, coffee or cola. Conclusion: Sleep disturbance is common in menopausal women. Appropriate interventions based on sleep-related personal characteristics should be performed to improve sleep quality, which is very important for maintaining the quality of life.
