الفهرس 
INTRODUCTION AND RATIONALEOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
By 2025, the number of postmenopausal women is expected to approach 1.1 billion worldwide. The menopausal transition is defined in general as the time between onset of menstrual irregularity and one year after the last menstrual period. This phase of post-reproductive life involves a biopsychosocial process where the majority of women experience some physiological changes, which is affected by a wide range of ethnic, psychological, social and cultural factors. There is increasing evidence that such factors as lifestyle (smoking, diet, exercise and reproductive history), socio-economic status, body mass index, mood, climate and cognitions (including attributions of symptoms to the menopause, beliefs and attitudes towards menopause) might explain cultural variations in reports of menopausal symptoms.
In Egypt a study reported that the most prevalent postmenopausal symptoms were joint pain (96.3%), sleep problems (89.0%) and physical and mental exhaustion (88.0%), hot flushes (76.8%), depressive mood (74.5%), heart discomfort (72.8%), bladder problems.
The outcomes of studies investigated folic acid as a potential adjunct therapy in the management of hot flashes were conflicting. Therefore, we intended to determine whether folic acid could improve the frequency and severity of hot flashes in postmenopausal women.
This study aimed at promoting the quality of care provided to postmenopausal Women. The study objectives were to assess the effect of folic acid compared with placebo on severity, frequency and quality of life of hot flashes in menopausal women attending El Mahsama Family Practice Center.