[Level of knowledge on the hazards and ailments of menopause among women at pre-menopausal age].

The aim of the project was to evaluate women's knowledge about symptoms, health hazards and preventive or mitigative measures against ailments of this life period. The study was conducted among 100 randomly chosen women, aged 42-49, experiencing the pre-menopausal time of life. The research tool was an anonymous questionnaire of own authorship. The results showed that it was menopausal symptoms the women were more familiar with rather than the health hazards resulting from hormonal deficiency. The surveyed indicated the following symptoms of this life period: mood fluctuations (82%), nervousness (74%), decreased elasticity of the skin (70%), hot flashes (69%), fatigue (66%), feeling unwell physically (65%), depressed mood (59%), tendency to cry (52%), sleep disturbances (50%). The women were not aware of the means to mitigate the disturbing symptoms of this time of life (with the exception of the hormone replacement therapy), having no knowledge on the role soya and soya-based supplements play in the alleviation of the nuisance of menopause.