Women's Experiences and Understandings of Menopause

The aim of this study was to describe and analyse a sample of women’s experiences and understandings of the menopause, in order to provide information on how women in Ireland experience this time in their lives and help identify the types of supports and services women would like. Thirty-nine women between the ages of 42 and 63 from a range of socio-economic backgrounds and with representation from both rural and urban areas participated in the study. Data were collected by 36 individual interviews and one group interview. Data were analysed using a qualitative strategy called thematic networks analysis.