A Descriptive Internet Survey on Menopausal Symptoms: Five Ethnic Groups of Asian American University Faculty and Staff

Abstract

The purpose of this Internet study was to describe menopausal symptoms, perceived causes of the symptoms, and management strategies for the symptoms among five ethnic groups of Asian American women. Sixty-two university faculty and/or staff members aged 40 to 60 years who self-reported as Asian Americans and could read and write English were recruited through the Internet. An Internet survey was conducted, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The most prevalent symptoms were “worrying about body,” “aches in back of neck and skull,” and “weight gain.” Most of the women perceived “aging” as the main cause of their symptoms and chose not to manage their symptoms. The findings strongly suggest that women’s own explanation of their symptoms is frequently different from that of health care providers.