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The menopausal transition is associated with substantial hormonal alterations that may adversely affect lower urinary tract function, bowel function, and sexual health. Although these symptoms are common, few studies have comprehensively evaluated all three pelvic floor compartments across different menopausal stages.
The aim of this study is to compare lower urinary tract symptoms, bowel symptoms, and female sexual function among women in the perimenopausal, early postmenopausal, and late postmenopausal stages. In addition, the relationship between menopausal stage and symptom severity will be investigated.
Menopause is characterized by estrogen deficiency, resulting in structural and functional alterations in pelvic floor tissues. Lower urinary tract symptoms, bowel dysfunction, and female sexual dysfunction are increasingly recognized as important health concerns during the menopausal transition.
Despite growing evidence regarding individual pelvic floor disorders, few studies have simultaneously evaluated urinary, colorectal, and sexual symptoms across different menopausal stages.
This study will classify women according to STRAW+10 criteria into:
Perimenopause Early postmenopause Late postmenopause
Participants will undergo a single assessment session. Demographic information together with validated questionnaires will be collected. No intervention or treatment will be provided.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perimenopause | Perimenopausal women according to STRAW+10 criteria |
| |
| Early postmenopause | Early postmenopausal women according to STRAW+10 criteria |
| |
| Late postmenopause | Late postmenopausal women according to STRAW+10 criteria |
|
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms | Other | Lower urinary tract symptoms will be assessed using the validated Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms questionnaire. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity and poorer urinary health-related quality of life. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (BFLUTS) Score | Lower urinary tract symptoms will be assessed using the validated Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms questionnaire. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity and poorer urinary health-related quality of life | Baseline (single assessment) |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Colorectal Anal Distress Inventory-8 (CRADI-8) | Bowel symptoms and colorectal-anal distress will be evaluated using the Colorectal Anal Distress Inventory-8. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity and distress related to bowel dysfunction. | Baseline (single assessment) |
| Cleveland Clinic Constipation Score |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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Women aged 40-65 years attending the Gynecology and Obstetrics Outpatient Clinic who are classified as perimenopausal, early postmenopausal, or late postmenopausal according to the STRAW+10 criteria. Participants must have an intact uterus and at least one ovary and be able to read and understand Turkish.
| Name | Role | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Betul CINAR, PhD | Contact | +905327879969 | betulbirik@gmail.com | |
| Betul Cinar, PhD | Contact | +90 212 523 22 88 | 4649 | bcinar@bezmialem.edu.tr |
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Betul Cinar, PhD | Bezmialem Vakif University | Study Chair |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bezmialem Vakif University | Istanbul | Turkey (Türkiye) |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D059411 | Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D020924 | Urological Manifestations |
| D012816 | Signs and Symptoms |
| D013568 | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D012149 | Restraint, Physical |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D032763 | Behavior Control |
| D013812 | Therapeutics |
| D007103 | Immobilization |
| D008919 | Investigative Techniques |
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| Assessment for Bowel Symptoms | Other | Bowel symptoms and colorectal-anal distress will be evaluated using the Colorectal Anal Distress Inventory-8. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity and distress related to bowel dysfunction. |
|
| Constipation Severity Assessment | Other | Constipation severity will be assessed using the Cleveland Clinic Constipation Score. Higher scores represent more severe constipation symptoms. |
|
| Sexual Function Assessment | Other | Female sexual function will be assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index, a validated questionnaire evaluating desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Higher scores indicate better sexual function. |
|
Constipation severity will be assessed using the Cleveland Clinic Constipation Score. Higher scores represent more severe constipation symptoms. |
| Baseline (single assessment) |
| Bristol Stool Form Scale | The Bristol Stool Form Scale is a 7-category scale ranging from Type 1 (hard stools) to Type 7 (watery stools). Values range from 1 to 7. Lower scores indicate harder stool consistency, whereas higher scores indicate looser stool consistency. | Baseline (single assessment) |
| Female Sexual Function Index | Female sexual function will be assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index, a validated questionnaire evaluating desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Higher scores indicate better sexual function. | Baseline (single assessment) |