2024 PN NCLEX Questions Nursing Practice Question
A middle-aged woman tells the nurse that she has been experiencing irregular menses for the past six months. The nurse should assess the woman for other symptoms of:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Irregular menses in a middle-aged woman often indicate hormonal changes associated with perimenopause, the transitional phase leading to menopause. This stage can last several years and is characterized by irregular menstrual cycles and other symptoms such as hot flashes and mood changes.
Option A, climacteric, refers broadly to the transition period but is less specific than perimenopause. Option B, menopause, signifies the end of menstruation, not the irregularity experienced prior. Option D, postmenopause, describes the period after menopause has occurred, making it irrelevant to current symptoms. Thus, assessing for perimenopausal symptoms is most appropriate.