The effect of group counseling on the severity of menopausal symptoms in perimenopausal period: A clinical trial

Background & Aim: Perimenopause is associated with severe changes in reproduction and hormones. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of group counseling on the severity of menopausal symptoms in the transition to menopause. Methods & Materials: This clinical trial study was performed on ninety perimenopausal women in Javanrood city in 2019. Women were randomly assigned into the intervention or control groups using the block randomization method. Counseling was conducted for the intervention group in groups of 11 to 12 people in four 60-minute sessions for four consecutive weeks. After 8 weeks, the severity of menopausal symptoms was measured using the Menopause Symptoms Scale. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 21. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of menopausal symptoms scores before the intervention (P=0.86). After the group counseling, the median (Q1, Q3) of menopausal symptoms, physical, mental and genitourinary symptoms in the intervention and control groups were 17.0 (15.0, 21.5) and 21.0 (17.0, 30.5) (P<0.001), 6.0 (5.0, 8.0) and 9.0 (6.5, 11.0) (P<0.001), 6.0 (5.0, 8.0) and 8.0 (5.0, 10.0) (P=0.004), and 5.0 (4.0, 6.0) and 6.0 (5.0, 8.5) (P<0.001), respectively. These values for the intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control group. Conclusion: Providing group counseling for four sessions was effective in reducing the severity of menopausal symptoms in perimenopausal women. Therefore, it is suggested that this strategy be used to promote women's health in the premenopausal period. Clinical trial registry: IRCT20120215009014N320