Menopausal Symptoms

The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a model of womens decision-making regarding menopausal symptoms. The publication of results from the Womens Health Initiative (WHI) and the rising popularity of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) make this an interesting time to examine womens increasingly complex decision-making process. Existing models of health behavior suggest factors that may be considered in womens decisions regarding management of menopausal symptoms. The current project used survey methodology to test the effectiveness of a proposed model of menopausal symptom decision-making in two groups of women: (a) women who recently had a hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy and (b) community women who experienced natural menopause. Symptom severity, common sense beliefs, and social influence were all found to play a significant role in womens decision-making process. These preliminary findings represent empirical and conceptual progress in the understanding of these decisions, and lay the groundwork for future research in the realm of menopausal decision- making.