Introduction: Menopause is a term that denotes the last menstruation in a woman's life. It
is defined retrogradely after twelve months of absence of menstruation. The menopausal
transition is accompanied by hormonal changes that affect the appearance of some symptoms
of menopause. The most commonly occurring symptoms are vasomotor symptoms,
insomnia, genitourinary syndrome, and psychological and cognitive changes, and
menopause results in an increased risk of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. Hormone
replacement therapy is most often used to relieve menopausal symptoms, but women often
opt for non-hormonal forms of treatment. One effective method is cognitive behavioral
therapy. Purpose: The aim of this study is to describe menopause and its symptoms, and to
investigate the benefits of cognitive behavioral therapy in menopausal women. We also want
to determine whether nurses can be involved in cognitive behavioral therapy. Methods: In
the study, we used a descriptive method of work, as we conducted a review of scientific and
professional literature. The literature search was conducted from January to March 2025, in
the Medline, CINAHL Ultimate, Google Scholar, Eric and Cochrane databases. 8 units of
literature were included. Results: Research has confirmed that cognitive behavioral therapy
is effective in relieving menopausal symptoms. The researchers described the greatest
improvement in the area of sleep problems and experiencing vasomotor symptoms. The
therapies were carried out in several different ways, but all results, regardless of the method
of work, described an improvement in the experience of symptoms. We also found that a
nurse with additional skills can also be included in cognitive behavioral therapy as a
provider, as the results showed the success of the therapy even under the guidance of nurses.
Discussion and conclusion: The field of cognitive behavioral therapy in menopause needs
more research in Slovenia, as it could be one of the successful options for helping women in
menopause. Additional training would also be needed for nurses, who have the most contact
with women in menopause. Symptoms strongly affect some women in menopause, so it is
important that health professionals offer them help and support in relieving them. It is
important to address each woman individually and take into account her wishes and values.
|
