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Woman to woman. Complementary therapy use in menopause
Constance I Will1, Willa Fowles
1School of Health Studies, Brandon University, Brandon, Manitoba, Canada.
Summary
Women explore complementary therapies like vitamins and herbs for menopause symptom relief. They often lack family and professional support for these alternative treatments.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Women's Health
- Menopause Management
Background:
- Increasing use of complementary therapies by women for menopause symptom relief.
- Gaps in research regarding motivations, choices, and experiences with complementary therapies during menopause.
- Need to understand the support systems available to women seeking alternatives to conventional treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore women's motivations for using complementary therapies during menopause.
- To identify the specific complementary therapies chosen by women and their reasons for selection.
- To understand women's experiences and perceived support (or lack thereof) when using complementary therapies.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study design.
- Focus group interviews with 19 Caucasian women experiencing menopause.
- Exploration of complementary therapy use, including herbal, homeopathic, dietary, and lifestyle interventions.
Main Results:
- Diverse range of complementary therapies utilized, including vitamin, mineral, and herbal preparations.
- Lifestyle and behavioral initiatives were also common approaches.
- Significant lack of perceived family and professional support for pursuing complementary or alternative treatments.
Conclusions:
- Women actively seek complementary therapies to manage menopause symptoms.
- Understanding women's choices and experiences is crucial for healthcare providers.
- Addressing the deficit in social and professional support is essential for women utilizing complementary medicine.