Does Reproductive Health Really Matters: An Experience of Indian Menopausal Women

The present paper aims to explore the affect of poor reproductive health on type and age at menopause and post menopausal health status. A community-based retrospective study was conducted in India on 2,600 households. A sample of 247 women with menopause/hysterectomy (<50 years) was identified and interviewed.

Results indicate that the foundation for any health disability during middle age is often laid during the reproductive years. Abortion, age at first pregnancy, complications during last pregnancy, cesarean delivery, and heavy blood loss during menses were the reasons for hysterectomy. Women with higher education, high SLI, and late age at first pregnancy were found to be less vulnerable to early menopause. Religion, educational level, SLI, BMI, hysterectomy, high parity, abortion, complications during child birth, sterilization as contraception, and experience of irregularities during menopausal transition had the adverse effect on the health status of women after menopause and affected age at natural menopause.

With the increase in life expectancy, there is a need to look beyond the perspective in terms of providing care, as poor menstrual and maternal health not only affect a woman during reproductive ages, but also vibrates beyond reproduction. Segmentation of life can never lead to healthy life.