Alotaibi Samar, Hinchliff Sharron, Ali Parveen
School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
Maternal and Child Health Nursing Department, College of Nursing, Shaqra University, Shaqra, Saudi Arabia.
J Adv Nurs. 2025 Aug 7. doi: 10.1111/jan.70132.
This study aims to understand Saudi women's experiences of sexual and relational changes during the menopause transition.
A qualitative, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis study.
Sixteen Saudi women aged 45-57 who had experienced natural menopause transition were purposively selected and interviewed using semi-structured interviews between December 2022 and March 2023. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Participants were recruited from several sites, including hospitals, gender-segregated schools employing female staff, and social media channels. The data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.
Three group experiential themes were identified from the data. These included 'The intimate relationship while going through menopause', which explores women's experiences of intimate relationships shaped by biological and hormonal changes, cultural and social expectations, and psychological influences; 'Perceived attractiveness and self-confidence', which describes how physical signs of ageing impact women's body image and self-confidence; and 'Managing the sexual changes during the menopause transition', which highlights varied coping strategies and attitudes toward seeking support for sexual changes during menopause.
Healthcare systems in Saudi Arabia must provide comprehensive menopausal care and train nurses and healthcare providers to consider women's sexual difficulties from a biopsychosocial perspective. Raising Saudi women's awareness of menopausal and sexual issues, as well as mitigating society's stereotypes, is crucial for empowering them to seek help.
Understanding how menopausal women experience sexual and relational changes during their menopause transition is crucial for nurses, as it enables them to provide appropriate care that supports both physical and emotional well-being. As nurses recognise these experiences, they can offer guidance, reduce stigma, and enhance women's quality of life.
The study adhered to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research.
No Patient or Public Involvement.
本研究旨在了解沙特女性在绝经过渡期间性与关系变化的经历。
一项质性的诠释现象学分析研究。
2022年12月至2023年3月期间，有目的地选取了16名年龄在45 - 57岁、经历过自然绝经过渡的沙特女性，并采用半结构化访谈进行访谈。访谈进行了录音并逐字转录。参与者从多个场所招募，包括医院、聘用女性员工的性别隔离学校以及社交媒体渠道。数据采用诠释现象学分析方法进行分析。
从数据中识别出三个群体体验主题。其中包括“绝经期间的亲密关系”，探讨了受生物和激素变化、文化和社会期望以及心理影响所塑造的女性亲密关系体验；“感知吸引力和自信”，描述了衰老的身体迹象如何影响女性的身体形象和自信；以及“应对绝经过渡期间的性变化”，强调了在绝经期间针对性变化寻求支持的各种应对策略和态度。
沙特阿拉伯的医疗保健系统必须提供全面的绝经护理，并培训护士和医疗保健提供者从生物心理社会角度考虑女性的性困难。提高沙特女性对绝经和性问题的认识，以及减轻社会的刻板印象，对于使她们能够寻求帮助至关重要。
了解绝经女性在绝经过渡期间如何体验性与关系变化对护士来说至关重要，因为这使她们能够提供支持身体和情感健康的适当护理。当护士认识到这些经历时，他们可以提供指导、减少污名化并提高女性的生活质量。
本研究遵循了质性研究报告的统一标准。
无患者或公众参与。
