Live Better - an educational experience in health during menopause

Abstract

Menopause is the phase in a woman’s life that beginnings in her 40s and stops at 65 yrs. It is characterized by the physiological decline of ovarian function during which there are endocrine, body and psychological alterations. The hormonal deficit in the body can cause a series of physical and emotional symptoms that, together, are called the menopausal syndrome (climacteric). Menopause has been the target of myths and the victim of misunderstanding for a long time. Its symptomatology is not universal, but varies in accordance with socio-cultural factors that determine the way that symptoms are perceived. An extension project of Federal University de Juiz de Fora - “Viver Melhor - Assistência Integral às Mulheres no Climatério” (Live Better, Integrated Service to Menopausal Women) - was created in 2001 to improve the care of women 40 to 65 years old, addressing the emotional, biological and social aspects of their health, and leaving aside the conventional interventions which focus exclusively on biomedical issues . It is a multidisciplinary project that proposes a wide ranging practice of health promotion, illness prevention and consequently, the search for a better quality of life through the sharing of information and experiences, questioning concepts and the acquisition of new knowledge. The aim of this paper is to provide an account of the experience of carrying out this study.