Caring for the woman who experiences the menopause under the unmedicalization perspective

Abstract

doi: 10.5216/ree.v12i3.7589

Menopause is a stage of the woman's life with several related taboos in which still remains a negative and depreciative perception, built based on the ideas of medicalization of the society and the health care. In this context, the medicalization for the use of hormonal replacement therapy is used as a possible solution for the physiologics changes that occur during the menopause, generating in the woman the expectation to always remain young and beautiful. The present article aimed at discusses the menopause under the perspective of the unmedicalization. It approaches the hormone replacement therapy in its relationship with the medicalization of the body and care; it retakes the physiologic and natural of the inherent transformations due to this life period and that are outstanding in the women's body and life. It also presents the unmedicalized care as strategy for improvement in the quality of life for women who are experiencing the menopause. Then, professionals who work with this group of women shall perform their actions in order to demystify that stage of life and to make possible through information the women's empowerment and care for them under the perspective of unmedicalization.

Descriptors: Nursing; Menopause; Woman's Health.