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GHMj
Journal of Global Health
and Medicine
A publication of
CINCADER
Vol. 3, N° 1, 2019
Centre of Research and Training for
Regional Development
Online at www.journals.cincader.org
Copyright © 2019, CINCADER.
ISSN 2523-9511
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32829/ghmj.v3i1.79
1
Climacteric experiences in nurses: Bases for feminine
care in the light of Joan Scott
María Teresa Cabanillas Cháveza, Yolanda Rodríguez Núñez de Guzmána,
Mónica Elisa Meneses La Riva b,*
aUnidad de Posgrado, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Peruana Unión
bUniversidad Cesar Vallejo, Peru.
mariterecabanillas@yahoo.es
Received: 10 March 2019; Accepted: 28 March 2019; Published: 05 April 2019
Resumen
El climaterio es una etapa fisiológica en la mujer que se caracteriza por una serie de cambios
morfológicos, funcionales, psicológicos y emocionales de vivencias basados en el cuidado en la
condición femenina. Objetivos describir y analizar las vivencias de las enfermeras basado en la
teoría de Joan Scott (2009), y considerar las bases para el cuidado. Estudio cualitativo mediante
historia de vida cuya población estuvo conformada diez enfermeras se utilizó la entrevista a
profundidad con preguntas abiertas. Resultados: Se evidencio las siguientes categorías: (1)
Vivenciando el climaterio con alteraciones físicas y psicológicas, (2) Vivenciando sentimientos
de inferioridad sexual, separación e incomprensión con la pareja, (3) Redes sociales de ayuda:
la familia, ayuda profesional, ayuda entre pares, y (4) Trascender desde las experiencias y las
bases para el logro de una vida plena hacia un modelo de cuidado integral a la mujer en edad de
climaterio. Se concluye que las vivencias incómodas del climaterio, compromete las
interacciones familiares y laborales. En la vida conyugal, la fragilidad emocional y la
incomprensión todavía es un obstáculo para algunas mujeres; el apoyo familiar provee ayuda
eficaz aún en los momentos más difíciles, cuando la sintomatología es muy intensa, la mujer
solicita ayuda profesional. Para Scott, la mujer establece vínculos de identidad cultural, sociales
con diferencias de género poco comprendidas. Por tanto, la enfermera(o) debe brindar cuidados
integrales y únicos, donde la mujer logre una vida plena, construyendo un “Modelo de cuidado
donde se desarrollen estrategias de acción dirigidas a la mujer en todas sus esferas”.
Palabras clave: Climaterio, Cuidado en la condición femenina, enfermeras
Abstract
The climacteric is a physiological stage in women that is characterized by a series of
morphological, functional, psychological and emotional changes of experiences based on the
care in the feminine condition. Objectives to describe and analyze the experiences of nurses
based on Joan Scott's theory and to consider the basis for care. Qualitative study by means of a
life history whose population consisted of ten nurses, an in-depth interview with open questions
was used. Results: The following categories were evidenced: (1) Experiencing the climacteric
with physical and psychological alterations, (2) Experiencing feelings of sexual inferiority,
separation and incomprehension with the couple, (3) Help social networks: family, professional
help, peer help, and (4) Transcend from the experiences and the bases for the achievement of a
full life towards a model of integral care for women of climacteric age. It is concluded that the
uncomfortable experiences of the climacteric compromises family and work interactions. In
conjugal life, emotional fragility and incomprehension is still an obstacle for some women; family
support provides effective help even in the most difficult moments, when the symptomatology is
very intense, the woman requests professional help. For Scott, the woman establishes bonds of
cultural identity, social with little understood gender differences. Therefore, the nurse must
provide comprehensive and unique care, where the woman achieves a full life, building a "Model
of care where strategies of action are developed directed at women in all its spheres.
Please cite this article as: Cabanillas M., Rodriguez Y., Meneses M., Climacteric experiences in nurses: Bases for
feminine care in the light of Joan Scott, Journal of Global Health and Medicine, vol. 3, no 1, 2019, pp. 1-11. DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32829/ghmj.v3i1.79
GHMj
Journal of Global Health
and Medicine
A publication of
CINCADER
Vol. 3, N° 1, 2019
Centre of Research and Training for
Regional Development
Online at www.journals.cincader.org
Copyright © 2019, CINCADER.
ISSN 2523-9511
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32829/ghmj.v3i1.79
2
Keywords: Climacterium, Care in female condition, nurses
1. Introduction
Climacteric syndrome is the cessation of a woman's menstrual periods for an average of 12
consecutive months where signs and symptoms of hot flashes, mood alterations, osteoporosis;
increased cardiovascular risks, genitourinary and emotional alterations [1]. Likewise, climacteric
is a natural and physiological process in a woman's life in which physical, psychological and social
changes occur, extending from the onset of reproductive maturity decline to the onset of old age.
Not all women present a characteristic clinical picture, but each woman is affected differently.
These discomforts are influenced by hereditary and environmental factors, which explain the
individual variations. In practical terms, this period ranges from 35 to 65 years of age and includes
the last menstruation or menopause [2].
The study arises from the interest generated from dialogues with women in the climacteric stage;
conversations carried out from the family nucleus listening to phrases related to this stage of the
woman's life such as: "it is the woman's critical age", "it is the woman's life change", "it is the
woman's difficult age", "it is a period where the woman ages and suffers some characteristic but
very uncomfortable symptoms". In this regard Travelbee (1969), mentions the importance of
communication to maintain a healthy emotional state in the face of the changes that people
experience at different times of life [3].
Another experience that marks the concern for this issue was to interact with nurses and most
expressed discomfort in the climacteric stage. They show tiredness, sadness, irritability, worry,
slow learning in some subjects, low tolerance, consumption of food with high caloric content, low
water consumption, reference to little exercise practice, few hours of sleep and rest, among
others, also perceiving varied attitudes and feelings, as emotional vulnerability to the little
tolerance perceived in their daily experience. Parallel to this experience are added the problems
of older adulthood, as well as the family burden, workload, the influence of social and cultural
stigmas, in addition to the hormonal deficit that characterizes this stage and affects the health of
women in this period of life. The shared experience was valuable to realize that, in professional
and social development, these events are part of a woman's life and it is necessary to know how
to lead it through a healthy lifestyle [1, 4, 5].
The life expectancy of women has increased in recent years in the world. In the middle of the
20th century, life expectancy reached 50 years and in South America, at the beginning of this
century, it exceeded 70 years. On the other hand, in Latin America it is estimated that 37 million
women are in the climacteric stage, representing 8% of the total population [6]. The life
expectancy of Peruvian women for 2015 was 72 years and their perspective is to reach 75 years
by 2020. These figures indicate that Peruvian women will live more than a third of their lives in
post-menopause. The INEI mentions that in our country there are approximately 2.1 million or its
equivalent, 17.4% of the female population in this stage of life [7]. Socio-demographic trends
highlight population aging as an outstanding change that has occurred in the structure of the world
and national population in recent decades, with the female population being the largest.
It is currently considered that more than 90 per cent of women in developed countries go through
the climacteric stage. Given the achievements of Public Health, it is expected that 6 million
Peruvian women will reach 75 years of age by 2020, a situation that explains the existence of
groups concerned about the physical and psychosocial manifestations derived from the changes
in this period of the human life cycle and their impact on health [6].
GHMj
Journal of Global Health
and Medicine
A publication of
CINCADER
Vol. 3, N° 1, 2019
Centre of Research and Training for
Regional Development
Online at www.journals.cincader.org
Copyright © 2019, CINCADER.
ISSN 2523-9511
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32829/ghmj.v3i1.79
3
According to Rogers (1994) considers that women are unique and individual beings who live a
complex and multidimensional process. It should be noted that in nursing each person, each
group or subgroup has its own practices, beliefs, values and traditions. It is not possible to try to
homogenize the care and think that what is proper of one culture is valid for the others. Although
the climacteric is a normal process and not a disease, it is accompanied by negative social
connotations and many women experience the loss of reproductive function as a process of
mourning, which profoundly affects their femininity. Some models of care, have begun to glimpse
the importance of comprehensive care for women, based on health promotion and disease
prevention. Consequently, Dorotea Orem (2001), considers self-care behaviors to be of vital
importance at this stage of life, emphasizing that it is an activity learned by people and directed
toward themselves, to regulate the factors that affect women for the benefit of their health and
well-being [3]. Likewise, to encourage self-care in women is to raise awareness, make decisions
to assume healthy behaviors during the climaterium is to contribute to the overall welfare and
development of women at this stage of life [8].
The purpose of this research is to describe the experiences of nurses in the climaterium as well
as the bases for care in the female condition, highlighting the strengthening, empowerment and
gender equality of women in accordance with the objectives of the millennium that seek gender
equity, as well as the knowledge obtained from the depths of the stories of nurses who experience
the climaterium, provide specific information from the context of life and work in a society in
permanent change and where, nevertheless, beliefs and myths are maintained regarding
femininity/masculinity; Sexual roles and work performance, linked to gender conceptions, which
can modify the well-being and self-esteem of the woman facing this stage [9,10].
2. Materials and Methods
Research study of qualitative and social focus; in order to know by means of methodological and
epistemological resources the heart of the dynamism of the individual life with all its richness of
meanings that overflow of it to reveal aspects of the subjectivity related to the experiences of the
nurses during the climaterio and the bases for the care in its feminine condition [11,12,13,14]. By
its social nature it tries to understand from the subjectivity of the subjects the sense of social life,
their experiences, values, attitudes, beliefs, habits, experiences and stereotypes and, from this
daily life and socially generated human phenomena to understand, analyze and interpret their
reality with the objective of developing knowledge through the understanding of the needs of
nurses in climaterium and to direct in an efficient way the best way to take care of them [11,12].
The life story, based on the ideas of the French philosopher and sociologist Bertaux Daniel, was
used. In order to preserve coherence with the object of study the construction of a life story is the
way in which the subject represents the aspects of his past that he considers relevant to the
current situation. The purpose of this type of study is to understand and understand life accurately
as it is reported and interpreted by the actor himself [13]. In the present research we are interested
in knowing the experiences of nurses in the climacteric phase narrated by themselves, analyzing
their discourses and proposing the bases for the care in their gender condition. For Glat, the
difference between the life history method and other methodological approaches is the respect
that the researcher has for the opinion of the subject. The researcher gives his opinion on the
subject. And the latter is not seen as a passive object of study. On the contrary, the researcher
and the subject are complementary and mutually modify their dynamic and dialectical relationship
[14,15].
For the collection of data, the in-depth interview was used, with a duration of 30 to 50 minutes,
coordinating in advance the time and place to conduct the interview, which was conducted
privately, being recorded with the prior written consent of the interviewee. The interview was open
GHMj
Journal of Global Health
and Medicine
A publication of
CINCADER
Vol. 3, N° 1, 2019
Centre of Research and Training for
Regional Development
Online at www.journals.cincader.org
Copyright © 2019, CINCADER.
ISSN 2523-9511
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32829/ghmj.v3i1.79
4
and the person was invited to talk about her experiences as a nurse in the climaterium, through
the guiding question: Tell me about her life that is related to the climaterium. In order to delimit
the sample, the technique of "Snowball" was used, or also defined as "saturation", which refers
to the fact that the investigation would culminate when the interviews begin to be repeated in their
content [12, 15].
The article "Gender: a useful category for historical analysis" was used to describe and analyse
the experiences of nurses based on the theory of Joan Scott (2009). The author proposed an
interpretation that succeeded in unifying apparently incompatible positions on gender issues. The
model also enriches the gender perspective. Therefore, the interviewee, who answers the guiding
questions or used short phrases, proceeded to reiterate them as "What else", "I continued"; in
such a way that it allowed to arrive at the apprehension of the meaning or unveiling of the
phenomenon. The interviews were conducted individually, recorded in a voice recorder. The
testimonies were transcribed as they were narrated in the speeches. Later, the analysis of the
stories, the thematic reduction and interpretation of the data were carried out. Once the data
were organized, the units of meaning were created, the coding of the thematic units was carried
out; and all the thematic units coded with numbers were merged, each participating nurse was
identified with the name of a "precious stone", then the thematic units were grouped and the
categories were constructed at this stage. At all times during the research, the corresponding
ethical aspects were assumed [16,17].
3. Results
The results allowed a greater approach to the women, to know what they feel at this stage with
the purpose of obtaining their vision of the world, feelings and behavior of them.
3.1. Experiencing the climacteric with physical and psychological alterations.
The speeches of the participating nurses reveal from the depth of their feelings the
experiences lived by the menstrual irregularities, the impotence before the social world that
surrounds them, by the loss of the fertility, sensation of aging, gain of weight, anxiety by the
physical and psychoemotional changes lived, by the uncomfortable hot flashes, sweats, hot
flushes and fatigue, as they are appreciated in the following testimonies:
(...) "The climacterium manifested itself through hot flashes and waves of fire, I thought that
they were devils that got into my body, my whole body lit up, it was horrible, horrible"
(Diamond).
(...) "I had very distant periods, my menstruation began to stop little by little and my vitality
diminished" (Moonstone).
(...) "I was ashamed that they knew I was "over 40" and that my reproductive life was over"
(Amethyst).
(...) "I feel sad about the loss of vitality, I felt that I was getting old" (Jade).
(...) "My physical tiredness is more pronounced... I realized that I was getting fat (Jade).
(...) "I could not bear it, I began to take Alprazolan, interdiary, even for 5 to 6 days later only
when it was necessary, then I have not taken any more, because the doctor indicated
hormones to me, which helped me a lot and relieved all the unpleasant symptomatology"
(Amethyst).
The climacteric is a physiological stage in the life of women, neither "critical" nor pathological,
as are childhood and adolescence, with their characteristics, risks and problems proper to
the evolution of women's lives [15]. However, Tarrés (2012), points out that the reproductive
life of women has been strongly affected in all societies, influencing their state of health, their
well-being, their comfort, their professional, academic, family and social performance, to
such an extent that some women resort to medicalization to balance their hormonal
differences [16].
GHMj
Journal of Global Health
and Medicine
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Centre of Research and Training for
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5
Other authors, such as Scott (2009), refer that the deep knowledge of the factors that
condition gender inequalities related to health, allows to understand women from a human
conception, with their conducts, behaviors, feelings, emotions, considering that they are
product of the hormonal declines proper to women in this period of life, characteristics that
in no way represent inequality. On the other hand, many times the same woman tries to hide
her experiences in this stage of life, not by her own decision but by the social beliefs and
attitudes that assign her to this stage as "an image not very acceptable for the dignity of
women" [17].
Feeling the physical discomfort of the hormonal change and that "the body does not give
more" are not motives for sarcasm or mockery. The woman as well as the man lacks a code
that indicates that the arrival of a stage of life has changes in its value.
3.2. Experiencing feelings of sexual inferiority, separation and incomprehension with the
couple.
The sexual alterations derived from this phase of the woman's life are uncomfortable
because they have repercussions in the relationship and even in the rejection of the woman
in the intimacy, thus, the conjugal relations can generate anguish and anxiety, being that
they expect to find respect, companionship and love in their partner. The speeches of the
interviewed reveal that in some cases the woman is rejected by the couple when she
perceives the declines of the climacterium, in other cases, misunderstood when they do not
notice what she is experiencing. This shows us that many times the woman has been an
invisible part in the processes of attention and understanding, as shown in the following
speeches:
(...) "In my conjugal relationship I felt a little inferior because my menstruation withdrew very
early and I... felt less like a woman" (Perla).
(...) "I was separated from my husband, they took away a leadership, I felt that the world was
falling" (Diamond).
(...) "The others do not understand us and many times I remain silent because I do not like
to be looked at diminished" (Jade).
(...) "Many of the colleagues in the service, right in this stage of the climaterium, are getting
divorced or some of them no longer understand each other well with their husbands, they
are separating from someone who was with them for a long time, this accentuates
unfavorably in them the symptomatology of the climaterium" (Coral).
For women, life as a couple and love is an attitude that goes beyond the space of genitality
and is based on the meaning of the other in each moment of life, to know it, understand it,
respect it and accept that people change considering that their essence and value endures
over time. Unfortunately, the culture of our country relates sex directly to the reproductive
function of women; and when menopause is established, women have the sensation of
having reached the stage of a "mission accomplished"; limiting themselves and even denying
clearly expressing their sexual desires and needs [18].
3.3. Social networks for a healthy climate:
- Subcategory: The family
The main functions of social support networks include companionship, emotional support,
cognitive guidance, advice, access to new contacts, and they can be as small as family or
as large as professionals and friends from society as a whole. Thus we have in the
following subcategory the testimonies that support it:
(...) "What helped me through this process was my mother's first thing... That's right, "that's
the way the symptoms are, you're going to get through it when you get to that age" I told
my sisters... and I've had at least the support at home" (Amethyst).
GHMj
Journal of Global Health
and Medicine
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Centre of Research and Training for
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Copyright © 2019, CINCADER.
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6
(...) "I have had a lot of support from my family, thank God we are very united; my husband
knew about the stage I was going through and gave me a lot of support" (Esmeralda).
(...) "My husband helps me a lot, he tells me, if you can't do this or that, relax, rest, sleep"
(Topaz).
In Romero's (2004), statements, the family is a fundamental source of support when people
present serious health problems or marginal conditions for different reasons [18]. In the
same way, Novel (2007), refers that people who have an effective family support system
are better able to withstand life's crises. The family is valued by the woman in climacteric,
as the closest support network, to obtain cautious, spontaneous and opportune advice [19].
- Subcategory: Professional help
When well-being is at stake and discomfort persists, there is no point in trying to resolve
the situation individually. Matud et al (2002), express that networks have to do with the
resources they may have in the face of felt human needs, this means that in some cases
professional support networks are indispensable [20]. In this sense we have the following
texts:
(...) "Well, because I was having these uncomfortable symptoms, I went to my gynecologist
to see how I could control all this" (Amethyst).
(...) "This took me to my doctor who advised me to take care of myself" (Jade).
(...) "I looked for a reliable doctor, he helped me a lot, he advised me and gave me a
symptomatic treatment" (Moonstone).
From this type of relationship, when the close support network does not meet expectations,
it is necessary to seek professional help. For the present study we consider important in
the woman's life; the professional help she receives, the more help she receives, the less
risk of deterioration she will experience and will be on her way to building a quality life.
- Subcategory: Helping Yourself Between Peers
In practice, in most societies, it is possible to count on the availability of friends. For the
present study dealing with a professional group such as nurses, it is expected the existence
of communication links and social support between peers, however, let's see the
experiences narrated by the interviewees:
When I see other colleagues less fortunate than myself, I empathize with them and put
myself in their place to understand and help them. The symptomatology they present is
very aggressive, some ask them to open the windows or want to be seated near the door,
while the young women do not understand them because they have not yet gone through
this stage" (Jade).
(...) "What you see at work is that people are marginalized and they say "such a person of
such an age is very special", so I would like them to understand me, that they have a warm,
welcoming atmosphere" (Esmeralda).
(...) "My advice would be to be in solidarity with them, to try to support them, because
something bad is happening and they don't want to tell us, they are afraid that everyone
will find out, that's why they don't ask for help" (Rubí).
(...) "The fact of going through what I have gone through has made me more sensitive to
understand other colleagues, I can advise them and I ask other colleagues to understand
them" (Diamond).
The convergences found reveal that gender solidarity consciousness is often absent in the
proactive and integrating life of "being a woman". In some cases the nurses in the
climaterium do not manage to count on the sympathetic support of their peers, which is
necessary to overcome the discomfort experienced; being a group of peers to whom the
knowledge about the climaterium and its effects is no stranger. The support of their peers,
constitutes a special network of friends that possesses attributes to offer solidary and
reciprocal support.
GHMj
Journal of Global Health
and Medicine
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Centre of Research and Training for
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.32829/ghmj.v3i1.79
7
Novel (2007), ask: will it be by gender that nurses, not being able to go against other groups
with whom they share the work, attack by omission or by fact the members of their own
profession, as if it were a form of oppressed violence? [19]
Peer support is transcendental; they share beliefs, ideologies, values, resources, as well
as nuisances and concerns. According to Carvalho (2013), a helping relationship is an
interactive process between two people, helper and helped [21]. Helping another nurse
encourages him to achieve behaviors compatible with self-sufficiency and self-
determination in the face of life's problems and challenges.
3.4. Transcending from experiences and building the foundations for care and the
achievement of a full life: towards a model of comprehensive care for women in
climateric conditions.
The knowledge, the experience gained in his trajectory, the search for social support, the
evaluation of the meaning of the self-realization achieved, are some of the transcendent
aspects at the moment of realizing the presence of physical and emotional changes and the
new needs of adaptation. Le Mone and Burke (2009), state that just as there are crises in
other stages of life, the climacteric for some women configures a situational crisis [22] as
stated:
(...) "I am going through this stage -smile- already more experienced, more altered. Hum!
(Amethyst).
(...) "I need to adapt, to learn to live little by little with this stage of life" (Jade).
(...) "When I perceive that some of them are going through that, I understand them and feel
what I went through and I say to them "just relax", it's going to happen to you, they are "things
of age" (Pearl).
Experience allows the human being to be supportive. For Heidegger (1962), affirms that
the human being as far as "being there in the world together with others" shares the joys and
the difficulties, is the solidary sense that leads us to offer calm and calmness to our pairs
[23]. In the same way the testimonies are explained by Scott, in the sense that the own
climacteric stage of the woman, it is possible to transcend it in equity and satisfaction.
- Subcategory: The bases of care for the achievement of a full life
The experiences expressed by the nurses in this study are the product not only of the
learning proper to the stage of professional training, but also constitute a fusion of
knowledge of the socio-cultural, political, philosophical and ethical context, whose learning
is present in the totality of human existence:
(...) "I do my annual check-ups as a routine, because I have relatives who at some point
have had cancer, I would recommend to colleagues, that they have a routine life, because
at this stage of climacteric breast cancer has a very high incidence" (Esmeralda).
(...) "All the women in the country need to be listened to, they need to be oriented, they
need to have a pass from a stage that is going to be intermediate between the final stage
because many times women do not know how to face that stage. Product of a bad attention
in that stage is that the problems come for example cardiovascular, come the rheumatic
problems, come the pain of bones, climaterio is a right of every woman" (Amethyst).
The self-care of the climacteric wman, being an intrinsic necessity to this lived stage, is
rooted in Collière's (1993), perspective, as an act and process of promoting one's own life
towards higher quality levels, transcending physiological discomforts and social
stereotypes, eager to accentuate the equivalence between gender differences and low-
powered behaviour and therefore resignation or submission, so distant from the purpose
that leads to a full life [24].
- Subcategory: The health care model for women of climacteric age.
The model of care implies a set of actions that seek to promote the effective, timely and
comprehensive care of women, considered in their physical and mental integrity as social
GHMj
Journal of Global Health
and Medicine
A publication of
CINCADER
Vol. 3, N° 1, 2019
Centre of Research and Training for
Regional Development
Online at www.journals.cincader.org
Copyright © 2019, CINCADER.
ISSN 2523-9511
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32829/ghmj.v3i1.79
8
and adaptable to their physical and socio-cultural environment. It includes aspects related
to people's lifestyles, self-esteem and the helping hand between nurses, as revealed by
the following testimonies:
(...) "I take care of myself and my children, we consume a lot of vegetables and fruit, in my
house you don't drink soda, the best way to teach is by example, if you want to teach about
lifestyle you have to practice it" (Topaz).
(...) "Nurses should start to value themselves as people, keep in mind that they are not
work machines and that they are not machines that solve the problems of the home, that
both have the same rights, not because one is a woman is worth less...". (Topaz).
(...) "The ideal is that as nurses we take care of our colleagues, we understand them, we
give them affection and understanding, a holistic care, to help them through difficult times.
Many times a nurse needs the help of another nurse to get ahead. (Esmeralda).
Although the experiences of women show the existence of ailments and limitations in
personal and social life, they also reveal the need to leave this reality as a right of every
human being, where gender cannot be an obstacle. Scott (2009), strengthens with much
conviction the preponderant equity of women in all human space and therefore the duty to
fight individually and collectively to achieve a full life of health, satisfaction and personal
fulfillment. This duty is to reach nurses as peers. Care as a social responsibility,
predominantly feminine, is the responsibility of the nurse with respect to her peers, not as
an obligation but as an expression of the deep sense of solidarity that represents sharing
the same purpose and belonging to the same discipline [17,25,26].
4. Discussion and Conclusions
The climacteric stage is lived differently by each woman, the concept of climacteric obeys the way
each woman experiences, lives and gives its own meaning to this period of life, and this depends
greatly on a particular profile, a history of life, beliefs and customs, the social context, as well as
their personal expectations. The experiences of the climacteric with its uncomfortable
manifestations and alteration of the physical and emotional well-being, together with sensations
of inexplicable tiredness, changes in the sense of humor, discomfort and even irritability or
sadness that compromises the family and work interactions. In married life, emotional fragility
and incomprehension is still an obstacle for some women. In all societies, a woman's life is
strongly affected by her reproductive life, which has a clear and direct influence on her state of
health, on her well-being and comfort, as well as on her professional performance, in her working,
academic, family and social life [16].
According to Scott (2010) considers that it is necessary to understand the conditions of women
in the biological, social, cultural, political factors among others. In order to be able to transform
customs considered as a product of a backwardness of the female population that would
overcome by understanding the justice implicit in the equality of the sexes [27]. It is striking that
in the 21st century, feelings of shame persist due to the changes in the pattern of the menstrual
cycle and its effects not only on thermal sensations but also on the unjustified tiredness
experienced by women. Scott (2009), fought forcefully for female equality, so it is possible to say
that the woman herself has not yet accepted this condition, influenced by sociocultural traits and
stereotypes [17].
With respect to social networks of support for a healthy climate, the family is called upon to provide
the necessary support and support for a harmonious life for women. However, the experiences
of the interlocutors let us feel that the family support is not always carried out as expected; some
experienced partial or definitive abandonment of the spouse motivating in them experiences of
pain and loneliness, but also gratifying situations are revealed where the woman is understood
GHMj
Journal of Global Health
and Medicine
A publication of
CINCADER
Vol. 3, N° 1, 2019
Centre of Research and Training for
Regional Development
Online at www.journals.cincader.org
Copyright © 2019, CINCADER.
ISSN 2523-9511
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32829/ghmj.v3i1.79
9
and supported by the spouse and other members of the family. Social interaction with co-workers
is manifested in terms of little understanding, lack of reciprocity and a sense of solidarity.
For Scott (2010), The deep knowledge of the factors that condition gender inequalities related to
health, allows to understand women from a human conception, with their behaviors, behaviors,
feelings, emotions, the same ones that are product of the hormonal declines proper to women in
this period of life; conceiving her as a being that like childhood or adolescence, comes passing
through one more stage of her life with her own feelings and emotions in this period [27].
When the symptomatology of this stage is intense, the woman does not hesitate to seek
professional help, because the physical and emotional discomfort exceeds the limits of human
tolerance. The climacteric experienced by the female nurse does not differ from the experience
common to all females, the privilege of belonging to a professional team where the essence is
care, allows us to reflect on the opportunity that study represents for the understanding of herself
and her peers. However, the expectation of the climacteric woman is frustrated by the fact that
the age, socio-labour condition and attitude of the peers do not privilege interest in the feelings of
their companions, who seem to think that the climacteric will never reach them.
On the other hand, Carvalho (2013), emphasizes that a helping relationship is an interactive
process that takes place between two people, where one of the parties tries to promote in the
other a growth, development, maturity, better functioning and a greater capacity to face life, In
other words, helping another nurse helps her achieve behaviors compatible with self-sufficiency
and self-determination in the face of life's problems and challenges, a fact that makes valuable
the help that a nurse can give to another nurse, especially if she is going through the discomfort
of the climate she needs to overcome [21].
According to the experiences of the climacteric with its symptomatology, the life in couple and the
socio-familial support, it is imposed the creation and implementation of bases for the care of the
woman in climacteric age for the achievement of a full life, capable of allowing the self-realization
with quality of life that incorporates the development of strategies of sensitization from the earliest
ages, in the field of the education in gender, and in the formation. The bases for care require a
Care Model where action strategies are developed in terms of promotion of healthy lifestyles,
emotional support, assertive communication and self-esteem.
Women, as natural caregivers and life managers, deserve the best care from the society in which
they live, from their peers and, of course, from taking care of themselves, it is their way of
promoting their own lives in order to continue giving life. Care as a social responsibility,
predominantly feminine, is the responsibility of the nurse with respect to her peers, not as an
obligation but as an expression of the deep sense of solidarity that represents sharing the same
purpose and belonging to it [25].
The nursing professional, according to the common of all women, also lives the reproductive life
as all women who have been full of silences, taboos, myths and evident prejudices. What we
have sought with this research is to try to demystify this period of the life of adult women and older
adults, so that it is carried out in a more pleasant, pleasant and gratifying way for them. Therefore,
what do you think if we "welcome" the climacteric and menopause in our lives. We conclude that
women above all nurses struggle to live the climacterium in a more constructive and vital natural
way, based on self-care, high self-esteem and respect for women's rights from a gender
perspective. Solidarity, affection and respect strengthen women in this natural period of life.
GHMj
Journal of Global Health
and Medicine
A publication of
CINCADER
Vol. 3, N° 1, 2019
Centre of Research and Training for
Regional Development
Online at www.journals.cincader.org
Copyright © 2019, CINCADER.
ISSN 2523-9511
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32829/ghmj.v3i1.79
10
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GHMj
Journal of Global Health
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A publication of
CINCADER
Vol. 3, N° 1, 2019
Centre of Research and Training for
Regional Development
Online at www.journals.cincader.org
Copyright © 2019, CINCADER.
ISSN 2523-9511
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32829/ghmj.v3i1.79
11
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