Introduccion: con el proposito de fomentar actividades para mejorar la calidad de vida, se valoraron las manifestaciones vasomotoras, psicosociales, fisicas y sexuales propias del periodo perimenopausico y las conductas de autocuidado, en un grupo de mujeres mayores de 40 anos que laboraban en una Institucion Universitaria. Materiales y metodos: estudio descriptivo. Participaron voluntariamente 30 mujeres y contestaron tres instrumentos: encuesta de caracterizacion sociodemografica, cuestionario para la valoracion de la calidad de vida de Mencol y escala de medicion de conductas de autocuidado; se realizo analisis univariado y el programa estadistico Epiinfo 2002. Resultados: mujeres entre 40 y 55 anos, casadas (70%), todas con hijos, en su mayoria docentes (80%). La generalidad percibia con mayor intensidad las manifestaciones sexuales de la menopausia. El autocuidado en promocion y prevencion fue moderado. Conclusiones: cada mujer expreso su climaterio de manera particular, y debe ser tratado de forma individual. Se requiere promover actividades de autocuidado. Abstract Qualit y of life and self care in perimenopausic women that work in a university in pereria, year 2008 Introduction: in order to promote activities to improve the quality of life, the vasomotor, psychosocial, physical and sexual display, typical of the perimenopausic period and the conducts of self care, in a group of women above 40 years of age that work at a University were evaluated. Materials and methods: descriptive study. 30 volunteer women participated and answered three different instruments: Sociodemographic characterization survey, questionnaire to evaluate the quality of life of Mencol and measuring scale of conducts of self care. A uni-varied analysis was done, using the Epiinfo 2002. Results: women between the ages of 40 and 55, married (70%) all had children, in the majority they were teachers (80%). The majority perceived with greater intensity the sexual manifestations of the menopause. The self care and promotion and prevention were moderate. Conclusions: each woman expressed their menopause in a particular manner, and it should be treated in an individual manner. It is required to promote activities o self care. Keywords: self care, quality of life, Women older than 40, lifestyles, promotion and prevention.