Incidence of and Factors Related to Urogenital Symptoms around the Menopause, Correlation between Urogenital Symptoms and Quality of Life (Qol), and the Effects of an Exercise Health Promotion Program on Women's Urogenital Health, QOL, and Knowledge

With estrogen and progesterone receptors demonstrated in the vagina, urethra, bladder and pelvic floor musculature, estrogen is known to have an important role in the function of female urogenital tract.Women around the menopause often reported vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, urinary frequency, urgency, nocturia, urinary incontinence and urinary tract infections. Studies investigating women’s menopause symptoms focused on vasomotor, psychological, physical and sexual symptoms. Little studies have been conducted to address the role that the menopause has in women’s experiences of urogenital symptoms although these symptoms have widespread human and social implications and cause physical discomfort, shame and loss of self-confidence that negatively affect women’s quality of life (QOL). Understanding the incidence of and factors related to menopause urogenital symptoms is helpful for identifying women at risk. Developing preventive strategies requires understanding multiple factors that affect menopause symptoms reporting in women from different backgrounds. Findings from theWomen’s Health Initiative resulting in a shift in the risk-benefit balance of hormone therapy have creating a growing interest in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments for menopausal symptoms. Interventions related to modifiable variables such as behavioral interventions, exercise, acupuncture, and lifestyle changes have been reported as beneficial strategies to promote urogenital symptoms. However, relatively few studies have addressed the efficacy and safety of CAM treatments for menopausal symptoms.Well-designed studies about CAM treatments for menopausal symptoms are still needed. The major aims of this study are to estimate the incidence of urogenital symptoms, to identify possible factors related to urogenital symptoms, to explore the correlation between urogenital symptoms and QOL, and to examine the effects of an exercise health promotion program among a sample of women aged 45-65. The results of this study will contribute to the knowledge about menopause urogenital symptoms, and lead to interventions to adjust modifiable variables and to appropriate strategies to manage urogenital symptoms. Two studies will be conducted at two obstetrics/gynecologic outpatient departments in two medical centers. The first study will include 238 women aged 45-65. Incidence of urogenital symptoms, possible factors related to urogenital symptoms, and correlation between urogenital symptoms and QOL will be examined. Two hundred women aged 45-65 and with at least one type of urogenital symptoms will be invited to the second study. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group. The intervention includes a 4-hour education program and a 12-month exercise program. Effects of the intervention on women’s urogenital symptoms, vaginal health, QOL and knowledge regarding urogenital symptoms will be examined. Descriptive statistics will be used to demonstrate the incidence of urogenital symptoms along with the distributions of individual characteristics, personal habits and QOL. Chi-Square tests will be used to compare the incidence rates of different types of urogenital symptoms for women with different characteristics. Logistic regression will be used to identify possible factors related to different urogenital symptoms. Correlation test will be used to examine the correlation between urogenital symptoms and QOL. Paired t-tests will be used to test the effects of the intervention.