COPING WITH MENOPAUSE

INTERVENTION

Women dread menopause the way children loathe visits to the doctor.
But women on the verge of menopause can greatly benefit from basic
medical guidance.

Information about menopause and behavioral intervention for women
in their mid-forties can forestall negative attitudes about this
lifecycle change. Research proves that such intervention helps women
combat the physical, sexual and emotional problems they associate with
menopause and leads to better health overall.

This author and a team of psychologists at Guy's Hospital in
London, England, launched the Women's Mid-life Project in the 1990s. It
consisted of health-education intervention for 78 45-year-old
premenopausal women. Half the women participated in two 90-minute
workshops, where they gained information about self-help and medical
treatments. The women discussed expectations and beliefs about menopause
and behavioral changes that might improve emotional and physical health,
such as reducing stress, exercising, smoking cessation and a healthy
diet. Individual behavioral goals were formulated for each woman.

Initial results confirmed that the intervention increased knowledge
and moderated negative beliefs.

A five-year follow-up of these women, then aged 50, assessed those
who were peri-menopausal (the two-to 10-year period before menstruation
ceases) and postmenopausal in order to examine the long-term impact of
the intervention.

Women who participated in classes retained their increased
knowledge and attributed fewer symptoms to menopause than did the control
group.

There were no differences in general health or mood, but the
prepared group reported more interest in sexual activity. Smoking reduced
in both groups by 7 percent across five years. Exercise levels increased
in the prepared group from 44 to 56 percent but remained the same at 39
percent for the control group.

Subjective evaluation of the intervention was positive: Women
reported using the information to cope with the emotional and physical
aspects of menopause.

Epidemiological studies also indicate that women who have negative
beliefs before menopause are more likely to report depression when they
experience menopause.

Both groups benefited from regular exercise, which is associated
with lower levels of depression and fewer menopausal symptoms, and helps
prevent osteoporosis.

The results were published in the journal Patient Education and
Counseling.

PHOTO (COLOR): WOMEN WHO RECEIVED COUNSELING WERE FITTER AND MORE
INTERESTED IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY FIVE YEARS LATER

Myra Hunter, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist at St. Thomas'
Hospital in London, England. She specializes in reproductive
health.