Abstract
M.A.
In this study an attempt is made to understand the phenomenological experience of women in spontaneous premature menopause. There is very little literature available about spontaneous premature menopause and even less about the experiences of women in spontaneous premature menopause. Spontaneous premature menopause is viewed as a negative experience in the woman’s life and medical staff recommend that she should receive treatment for spontaneous premature menopause. In this study the woman, herself, was asked how she feels about spontaneous premature menopause and how it affects her life.
Phenomenological research procedures are used in this study. Interviews were conducted with three participants. They were asked to tell the researcher about their experience of spontaneous premature menopause and how it affected their lives. Hermeneutic phenomenology is used to analyse the participants’ experience of spontaneous premature menopause. Themes and categories that stood out during analyses are discussed and interpreted.
Results of the study show that spontaneous premature menopause can cause bodily changes in women; it can lead to several different menopausal symptoms and it can have a negative effect on her relationship with her family, friends and other people. Bodily changes that can occur, because of spontaneous premature menopause include weight gain, changes in the breasts, changes to the vagina, skin changes, bladder changes, itchy skin, heart palpitations and changes to the pelvic floor. Symptoms that can occur during spontaneous premature menopause include hot flushes, night sweats, headaches, sleep difficulties, tiredness, depression, forgetfulness, mixed emotions and pain in different areas of the body.
Participants felt that their bodies, their doctors and their family and friends failed them. They had no one to turn to, because significant people in their lives did not believe that they are in spontaneous premature menopause. They were told that it must be something else like depression. The participants had shock reactions due to feelings of loss. They no longer had the body of a young woman. They had lost their youthful appearance, their sexuality, their abilty to bear children and to function satisfactorily in their daily duties. These women had to come to grips with the fact that their youthful days were over and that they were aging before their time.
It is suggested that cross-cultural research be done in the future to establish how women in other cultures experience spontaneous premature menopause. Comparisions can be made and if there are any differences efforts can be made to establish what causes these differences. Cultures where spontaneous premature menopause is viewed as a positive event in a woman’s life can be researched to establish how this experience can be turned into a positive experience in cultures where it is viewed negatively.