Perceptions and health-seeking behaviour of two young women with Iatrogenic premature menopause

ABSTRACT

Background@#Premature menopause is a frequently overlooked condition with significant morbidity without timely intervention.@*Objective@#This descriptive study explored the perceptions, concerns, and health-seeking behavior of two women diagnosed with premature menopause, regarding their illness.@*Methods@#Authors interviewed two nulligravid patients less than 30 years old diagnosed with premature menopause. Verbal consent was sought prior to the interview. An interview guide adapted from the Explanatory Model (Kleinman) to probe each patient's perceptions, concerns and health-seeking behaviour regarding PM was used. Data validation was immediately sought after the interview with each patient before analysis. Thematic analysis was used to explore the patients' perceptions (physical, psychological, and social effects of PM) and health-seeking behavior that resulted from these effects.@*Results@#Results showed that vasomotor symptoms, infertility, and treatment costs are important issues for these patients to help them undertsand their illness. The neglected role of physicians in fully disclosing the effects of the disease is highlighted in one patient that hindered her from making informed choices for treatment. The behavioural responses of these patients were influenced by the following factors ability to make informed decisions over disease management, degree of disruption of activities of daily living, infertility, amount of social and financial support.@*Conclusion@#Looking at the underlying motivations of women diagnosed with premature menopause about their illness may help physicians better understand patients' circumstances, how it affects them and their families, and their expected recovery process.