Women's attitudes toward the menopause: an update.

A sample of 244 pre-, peri-, post-menopausal and hysterectomized women were administered a 10-item Menopause Attitude Questionnaire which assessed women's agreement with several controversial menopausal issues (i.e., whether the women subscribed to a view of menopause as a normal developmental stage or as a deficiency disease; attitudes toward hormonal replacement; and whether female sexuality was perceived as compromised during and subsequent to menopause). Results revealed that even a fairly homogeneous population of well-educated women held a considerable diversity of beliefs about the menopause. Respondents were clearly divided regarding the issue of hormone replacement therapy and its associated risks, but were united in holding optimistic beliefs about maintaining their femininity and sexuality subsequent to menopause. The implications of this research are discussed in terms of the current zeitgeist regarding menopause.