Menopause and crisis? Fake or real: comprehensive search to the depth of crisis experienced: a mixed-method study

Menopause is beyond the lack of menstruation and fertility decline in estrogen. Menopause is associated with at least three types of crisis: Biological, psychological and social. The aim of this study was to investigate psychiatric problems related to menopausal stress and experiences about psychological conditions related to menopause as a developmental crisis.

This mixed-method study (by triangulation approach) was done on 300 women in menopause age (44-54 years) by consensus sampling. Data gathering was from questionnaire conclude psychosomatic listed and hypochondria's criterion that has been specified by DSMIV. The severity of the disorder was also collected by self-reported question. In the qualitative part, as a phenomenology study, data were gathered with Purposive sampling by a deep semi-structured interview. Data analysis was from content analysis).

Results showed that most of the disorders from psychosomatic listed experienced by women conclude: sexual problems 101(33.7%), hypertension 39(13%), and constipation 30(10%); 2.9% had experienced hypochondrias disorder. In the qualitative part, 5 themes were driven from the results of this study which described the structures of psychological experiences of the menopause as follows: change in emotion and mood, change in attitude, change in self-concept and change in interpersonal relationships.

Menopause is a physiological process in women's life, but due to many symptoms and complications, it requires culturally appropriate education, appropriate coping with problems and mental health promotion in this sexual crisis.