PERCEIVED REPRESENTATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES OF MENOPAUSA AND ANDROPAUSA: EVISA PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Menopause and andropause are processes characterized by several changes. However, research on this field has focused on medical issues, disregarding psychosocial variables and their impact on this stage of the life cycle. Therefore, the aim of this study (integrated in the EVISA study) is to evaluate Portuguese women’s representations about these processes and their perceived consequences. Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with Portuguese women (43 to 86 years). Afterwards, content and thematic analyses were conducted to the interviews by two dependent evaluators, using MAXQDA software, followed by a frequency analysis. Menses cessation and vasomotor symptoms were the most frequent representations of menopause (50%), with the first being the most mentioned positive consequence (50%) and the latter the negative (40%). As to the Rua Jardim do Tabaco, 34, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal. e-mail: cneves@ispa.pt REPRESENTAÇÕES DA MENOPAUSA E ANDROPAUSA (EVISA) www.sp-ps.pt 88 andropause representations, the most frequent responses were related to the aging process, libido variations, loss of capacities and the vision of andropause as an equivalent process to menopause (30%). Most participants believe there are no positive consequences (60%), and depression was identified as the most mentioned negative consequence (30%). These preliminary results give important information for both research and clinical practice, given that women’s representations (namely, about menopause) can influence the way this stage of the life cycle is experienced.