Prevalence of Gynaecological Problems and Common Medical Disorders in Postmenopausal Women: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Menopause is marked by cessation of menses brought about by declining ovarian function. This period may present with gynaecological problems, which are often the reason for gynaecological consultations. Many women also suffer from medical disorders and may be unaware of underlying cardiovascular risk factors. Aim: To evaluate the prevalence and nature of gynaecological problems and common medical disorders like hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism in postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Outpatient Department (OPD) of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, at Dr.Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India, from January 2023 to December 2023. A total of 284 women were enrolled after consent, basic demographic details, including age at menopause and reason for consultation, were noted, and blood pressure, height, and weight were recorded. Following a thorough gynaecological consultation, investigations like complete blood count, blood sugars, and thyroid function test were done. Data was recorded, and analysis was done using mean, Standard Deviation (SD) and percentages. Results: The mean age at presentation was 58.15±7.70 years, mean duration since menopause was 11.24±8.74 years. Among them, 136 females (49.4%) attained menopause in the age group 45-49 years. The most common gynaecological reason for consultation was postmenopausal bleeding in 161 (56.7%), followed by urogenital prolapse in 115 (40.5%) and urinary symptoms in 67 (23.6%). During basic examination and investigations, 32 (11.3%) new cases of hypertension, 52 (18.3%) new cases of diabetes mellitus, 19 (6.3%) new cases of hypothyroidism and 12 (4.2%) new cases of other medical problems were diagnosed. Conclusion: Menopause may present challenges due to gynaecological problems. Basic medical disorders can be diagnosed by simple tests at the time of a gynaecological consultation. The gynaecological visit may therefore help in the diagnosis and management of medical disorders, and help in improving the overall health of the postmenopausal woman.