Prevalence and signs and symptoms of menopause have been extensively studied
among Malaysian women but no one had investigated the level of knowledge and perception of
menopause. This study aimed to examine the knowledge and perception of menopause among young
to middle aged women (15 to 49 years old). A cross-sectional survey using 20-items questionnaire was
conducted in three randomly chosen districts in Federal Territory, Kuala Lumpur. Women in this
survey were aware of the meaning of the term menopause and its symptoms. However, the majority
lacked comprehensive understanding about the health risks associated with menopause. Commonly
cited sources of knowledge were magazines and family members. Lack of official sources for accurate
information on menopause was reported. Communication with health care personnel regarding
menopause was uncommon. An exploration into respondents’ perceptions on menopause revealed
that the majority displayed positive thinking towards menopause. Young respondents seemed to have
better perception regarding menopause compared to middle aged women. Although the women had
good knowledge about menopause, they expressed feelings of sadness and nervousness upon the
approach of their own menopause. Our data provides insight on the knowledge and perception of
menopause that will guide future public health initiatives for premenopausal women in order for them
to cope better when approaching this stage of life cycle.