Submitted:
21 November 2025
Posted:
25 November 2025
You are already at the latest version
Abstract
Keywords:
Introduction
Methods
Participants and Setting
- What is your experience of menopause? (Physical and psychological symptoms)
- How have you been coping with these symptoms?
- Did you take any help from health care professional for these symptoms? If no, what was the reason?
- How was the support from family and friends during this time?
- Do you know of any work place policies for menopausal women?
Data Analysis
Ethical Considerations
RESULTS
Demographics of Interviewees
Thematic Analysis
Theme 1: Physical Manifestation-The Everyday Challenge
“I experience pain in my back especially the lower part.” (P3)
“I have severe body aches and feel like each joint of my body is painful.” (P7)
“I have started having painful knees.” (P14)
“I do not experience back ache or any sort of pain.” (P9)
“I feel a wave of heat in my body (Garma lamba). It’s more pronounced at night. It makes me feel as if I have fever” (P2)
“I have had very bad hot flushes, so severe that I would rush to my room to turn on the fan even in winters. At night, I would sleep next to the wall so I could touch it during a hot flush because the wall felt cool” (P8)
“It is strange to me because I didn’t experience any hot flushes like my friends often complained about” (P20)
“The frequency of my urination has increased, and it dribbles before I can reach the toilet.” (P1)
“I feel the need to urinate again just a few minutes after going, and I experience urine dribbling when I cough” (P18)
“I have started having these episodes where I can feel my heart pounding and sinking (Zra me dobegee), and it is usually at night and is associated with the hot flushes.” (P2)
“I have started experiencing palpitations recently” (P9)
“Because of the pain, the frequency of our intimacy has decreased.” (P18)
“I have started experiencing problems in my sexual life, but I would rather not go into details” (P12)
Theme 3: Coping Mechanisms in Response to Menopausal Challenges
“I find it hard to manage responsibilities alone now, so I involve my daughter in my tasks” (P4)
“Since I get distracted and bored quickly with things I used to enjoy, I involve my son to keep me engaged” (P5)
“I find myself getting tired more quickly, so I take breaks in between and lay down” (P3)
“I tire easily now, so I need to take frequent rests as I go about my chores” (P7)
“I am not able to finish my work as fast as I used to, so I go slowly now” (P2)
“I have started writing things down in different colours as a memory aid - it makes it easier to recall tasks” (P9)
Theme 4: “Lean on Me”: Social Support in Menopause
“My colleagues have been very considerate and have provided me with full support in the workplace”. (P3)
“My work colleagues are mostly female, and they are very aware of the fact that this phase is very sensitive and hence I feel very supported”. (P9)
“I don’t find my work environment very supportive. Everyone still expects me to work at the same level as before”. (P4)
“I don’t think my husband has been very supportive during this phase. It is important for a spouse to understand the changes happening in your body and how to support you during this difficult time”. (P5)
Theme 5: Health Care Engagement amid Transition
“My gynaecologist advised me to take HRT, but I chose not to as I was worried about the side effects. Having worked in a gynaecology unit, I was particularly aware of the potential risks, which made me hesitant.” (P3)
“I have never consulted any one for it as I felt that this is a normal part of the aging process” (P4)
“When my cycles became irregular, I consulted my gynaecologist. She did an ultrasound and explained that what I am experiencing is a normal part of aging, and did not prescribe any medications” (P6)
“I did not consult any one as I was rather happy I stopped having the menses (Jamay may khatmay shway)”. (P7)
“I consulted my gynaecologist twice after my womb was removed, as I started facing a lot of physical issues. She only prescribed calcium supplements which did not help a lot. She explained that rest of the symptoms will improve with time” (P8)
“Although I was prescribed HRT, I chose not to use it as my sister-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer, so I got scared and never used the treatment”. (P20)
Theme 6: Policy Awareness in the Workplace During Menopause
“I do not know of any workplace policy for menopausal women, but I would want the government to look into the matter and devise such policies”. (P2)
“I don’t know of any workplace policies supporting menopausal women but I wish the authorities would implement some”. (P6)
Discussion
Limitations
Future Directions
Conclusion
Author Contributions
Funding
Ethics approval
Consent to participate
Consent for publication
Availability of data and material
Code availability
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of interest
References
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| Theme | Sub-themes | Exposures | Determinants |
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| 1. Physical Manifestations |
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| 2. Psychological Challenges |
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| 3. Coping Mechanisms |
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| 4. Social Support |
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| 5. Healthcare Engagement |
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| 6. Workplace Policy Awareness |
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