Assessment of Oral and Emotional Health in Pre-Menopausal and Post-Menopausal Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES

i) To assess the emotional health status and oral manifestations in pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women. ii) To evaluate the correlation between emotional health status and oral manifestations in pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women. iii) To assess the oral symptoms and emotional state of women in relation to the duration after cessation of menstruation.

METHODS

A total of 68 women were included and categorized into pre-menopausal (n = 34) and post-menopausal (n = 34) groups. post-menopausal women were further subdivided into three groups based on the duration of cessation of menstruation. After the women provided written informed consent, a questionnaire with binary (yes/no) response options was used to document their emotional health, followed by a detailed case history and clinical examination to assess oral signs and symptoms.

RESULTS

A statistically significant (P < 0.05) correlation was detected between women's menopausal status and emotional health status. Burning mouth syndrome was more prevalent among post-menopausal women, with the highest prevalence in Group 2 (33.30%), whereas Group 3 had the highest mean periodontal index and number of missing teeth.

CONCLUSION

Post-menopausal women frequently experience oral discomfort, including xerostomia, burning mouth, gustatory changes, and hyposalivation, which are associated with changes in emotional health. The early diagnosis of oral alterations is crucial and should be evaluated alongside other systemic changes. This study aimed to enhance interspecialty cooperation and understanding to improve the health of post-menopausal women.