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Introduction Menopause is a transitional period that every woman goes through if she lives beyond the age of 52 years. The health care of women during this stage requires special attention to the identification of their health needs in order to provide competent care. The aim of the study was to assess severity of symptoms related to the menopausal period and to describe the differences in severity of menopausal symptoms according to menopausal status. Methods and design A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. Data were collected from 350 Jordanian women using a self-administered questionnaire consisting of a sociodemographic, medical and obstetrical history form and the Greene Climacteric Scale. Results Results on the severity of menopausal symptoms showed that 15.7%, 66.9% and 17.4% were experiencing severe, moderate and mild menopausal symptoms, respectively. Vasomotor signs were reported to have the highest scores for severity as manifested by hot flushes and night sweating. In addition, women in the perimenopausal period complained more frequently of menopausal symptoms compared to premenopausal and postmenopausal women, except for vasomotor and sexuality symptoms for which postmenopausal women reported higher scores. There was a significant relationship between the severity and occurrence of menopausal symptoms and age, family income, level of education, number of children, perceived health status and menopausal status. Implications The study has implications for research, practice and education. Health-care providers need to play a more visible and instrumental role in continuously assessing menopausal women's needs as well as to implement appropriate health educational programs. Further research addressing women's health needs is also essential for improving the quality of life of menopausal women in Jordan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]