Climacteric Symptoms in Women from the Policlínico Universitario Plaza de la Revolución

Abstract

Introduction: Women experience biological, psychological and social changes at ages between 40 and 59 years, where the climacteric and menopausal process is found, in which vasomotor symptoms are the most precocious and characteristic.

Objective: To determine the frequency of climacteric symptoms in middle-aged women belonging to the Policlínico Universitario Plaza de la Revolución.

Methods: The study consisted in an observational, descriptive and cross-sectional research, with a nonexperimental design, carried out in the period from January 2018 to December 2020. The sample consisted of 353 women aged 40 to 59 years who received attention at the 16 family medical offices of the Policlínico Universitario Plaza de la Revolución, through simple stratified sampling. For data collection, the medical history record model was used, previously designed in the climacteric consultation of the service for sexual and reproductive health of the polyclinic.

Results: A total of 353 women received attention, predominantly at ages from 45 and 49 years (27.8 %). The most frequent symptoms were anxiety (81.6 %), hot flashes (80.2 %), as well as muscular and osteoarticular pain (74.5 %). Moderate to critical intensity predominated (65.3 %).

Conclusions: Anxiety and vasomotor symptoms are the most characteristic clinical manifestations of climacteric, affecting more than two thirds of the women from the polyclinic. Headache and decreased libido were symptoms frequently reported in consultation.