Nursing Midwifery Commons^™

Distress During The Menopause Transition: A Rich Contextual Analysis Of Midlife Women's Narratives, Marcianna Nosek, Holly Powell Kennedy, Maria Gudmundsdottir

Nursing and Health Professions Faculty Research and Publications

In 2010, nearly 400 million women worldwide were of menopause age (45-54). Although many women transition through menopause with ease, some experience distress and a subsequent decrease in quality of life. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the experiences of distress in women during the menopause transition. A narrative analysis methodology was used maintaining participants’ complete narratives when possible. In-person interviews of 15 midlife women were digitally audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Women shared narratives of distress related to menstrual changes, emotional instability, vaginal dryness, and decreased libido affected by their relationships with self, partners, work, and …