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The menopausal transition is regarded as the critical window where midlife women experience various health challenges having debilitating impact on their wellbeing. The present cross-sectional study intends to assess cognitive outcome with changing hormonal milieu during menopausal transition and related symptoms in midlife and beyond. For this purpose, cognitive performance of women and menopausal symptoms were studied on the sample of 320 women ranging in age from 45 to 60 years. Data collection was carried out by purposive sampling method from rural areas of Haryana from March 2021 to January 2023. Findings of the study demonstrated a successive downward trend in the mean scores of orientation to time and place, registration, attention, recall, as well as language and visual spatial skills cognitive domain from premenopause to late postmenopause stage. Multivariate logistic regression analysis (adjusted for age and educational status) identified severe menopausal symptoms, i.e. heart beating quickly or strongly, difficulty in sleeping, feeling tired, feeling unhappy or depressed, and sexual dysfunction as the potential determinants of poor functioning of different cognitive domains among women transitioning menopause and beyond. Hence, it was observed that cognitive decline during menopause transition and beyond is sensitive to severe menopausal symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The sexual interest of postmenopausal women is a crucial aspect of their overall well-being. Despite its importance, factors influencing postmenopausal sexual interest, particularly in Asian women, remain understudied and poorly understood. Aims To investigate the various factors influencing sexual interest in postmenopausal women in Malaysia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted of postmenopausal women attending a gynecology or primary care clinic in a teaching hospital in Malaysia. Outcomes We investigated how interpersonal dynamics and cultural norms—including the physical and mental health of women and their partners, as well as their sexual values—affect menopausal sexual interest as measured by the Menopausal Sexual Interest Questionnaire. Results Women in the study reported an average sexual interest, with a mean score of 32.8 (SD, 9.4) out of 70 on the Menopausal Sexual Interest Questionnaire. Multivariable analysis results showed that higher personal sexual values (odds ratio [OR], 2.65; 95% CI, 1.26-5.61) and spousal sexual values (OR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.22-5.86) were significantly associated with higher menopausal sexual interest. There was a positive correlation between the physical fitness of spouses and menopausal sexual interest, with women who rated their spouses as very fit or fit (OR, 3.22; 95% CI, 1.15-9.00) or moderately fit (OR, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.05-6.63) showing higher menopausal sexual interest as compared with those whose spouses were very unfit or unfit. Women with normal stress levels (OR, 5.89; 95% CI, 1.03-33.62) and mild to moderate stress levels (OR, 8.13; 95% CI, 1.53-43.22) reported higher menopausal sexual interest. Clinical Implications This study emphasizes a holistic approach to postmenopausal sexual health, highlighting the significance of promoting positive sexual values, improving physical fitness, and managing stress. Health care providers should educate, counsel, and collaborate interdisciplinarily, ensuring culturally sensitive care tailored to individual needs. Strength and Limitations The study's strength lies in its provision of valuable insights into factors affecting sexual interest among postmenopausal Asian women, enhancing comprehension of holistic sexual health approaches. However, reliance on self-assessments may introduce response bias influenced by social desirability, and limited generalizability stems from single-site data collection. Conclusion Our study highlights the significance of adopting a holistic approach to addressing sexual health in postmenopausal women, which includes promoting positive sexual values, improving physical fitness, and managing stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted as a randomized controlled experimental trial with the aim of determining the effect of acupressure on menopausal symptoms and quality of life in postmenopausal women, as well as the correlation between the two. This randomized controlled experimental study was conducted between May and November 2021 with women coming to a Menopause School in Turkey. A Descriptive Characteristics Form, the Menopause Rating Scale, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Short Form were used to collect data. The study was performed with 61 patients in an acupressure group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 31). Acupressure was performed on the acupressure group in 30-minute sessions 3 times a week for 4 weeks, a total of 12 sessions. No intervention was performed on the control group. When the groups were compared, it was seen that the menopause symptom scores of the acupressure group were lower than those of the control group, and that their quality of life scores in the bodily and psychological areas were higher (P < .05). When within group comparisons were considered, it was seen that menopause symptoms declined over time in the acupressure group, and the scores of all dimensions of quality of life increased (P < .05). It was found that acupressure applied to women during menopause may reduce menopause symptoms and may improve their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of possible sarcopenia and its associated factors among middle-aged Vietnamese women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 205 women aged 40–55 years who were admitted to the Can Tho Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital between February and December 2023. The presence of possible sarcopenia was determined according to the AWGS 2019 criteria. Associated factors were dietary intake (total energy, protein, lipid, and carbohydrate intake), the severity of menopausal symptoms by using the Kupperman index, and body composition by using the bioelectrical impedance analysis device, Inbody S10. Logistic regressions were built to analyze the association between possible sarcopenia and its associated factors. Results: The prevalence of possible sarcopenia was 29.8%, with a mean age of 47.2. Possible sarcopenia was detected in 23% of the participants based on the criterion of low handgrip strength, whereas 83.6% of the participants when considered low performance in the chair stand test. Adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that living in a rural area (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.16, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.22–4.72), energy intake <25 kcal/body weight, (AOR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.75–5.06), protein intake <0.91 g/body weight (AOR: 2.42, 95% CI: 1.51–5.76), skipping breakfast (AOR: 2.03, 95% CI: 0.91–4.54), mild menopausal symptoms (AOR: 2.68, 95% CI: 1.61–5.36), and obesity (AOR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.29–3.67) were significantly associated with higher risk of possible sarcopenia. Conversely, higher muscle mass and higher upper limb mass were associated with a decreased risk of possible sarcopenia (total muscle mass AOR: 0.20, 95% CI: 0.07–0.59). Conclusions: These findings would provide a basis for enhancing management and prevention strategies to reduce the risk of sarcopenia in Vietnam. In particular, attention to nutrient intake and the management of menopausal symptoms may reduce the risk of sarcopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore the independent associations between adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet and severity of menopausal symptoms in perimenopausal and menopausal women living in Australia. Methods: Dietary adherence was assessed using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) was used to assess the severity of menopausal symptoms, and the 36-item short form survey instrument (SF-36) was used to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Results: A total of n = 207 participants (50.7 ± 4.3 years; BMI: 28.0 ± 7.4 kg/m2) were included in the final analyses. Participants reported low-moderate adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet (5.2 ± 1.8; range: 1–11). Adherence was not associated with severity of menopausal symptoms. However, low consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was inversely associated with joint and muscle complaints, independent of all covariates (β = -0.149; CI: -0.118, -0.022; P = 0.042). Adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet was positively associated with the physical function subscale of HRQoL (β = 0.173, CI: 0.001, 0.029; P = 0.031) and a low intake of red and processed meat was positively associated with the general health subscale (β = 0.296, CI: 0.005, 0.014; P = < 0.001). Conclusion: Diet quality may be related to severity of menopausal symptoms and HRQoL in perimenopausal and menopausal women. However, exploration of these findings using longitudinal analyses and robust clinical trials are needed to better elucidate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The onset of menopause leads to diminished estrogen exposure, resulting in a high morbidity burden related to menopausal symptoms. Menopausal hormonal therapy is an effective therapy that offers more advantages than disadvantages for women aged less than 60 years or who have had menopause for less than 10 years. Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of menopausal symptoms, identify factors associated with menopausal symptoms, and assess the use of menopausal hormone therapy among women aged 40–60 who visited the gynecological clinics of three hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2022 to June 2022 at Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Tikur Anbessa Hospital, and Zewditu Memorial Hospital on 296 middle-aged women. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire and analyzed for sociodemographic factors, utilization of menopausal hormone therapy, and prevalence of menopausal symptoms using the menopause rating scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of each subscale of menopausal symptoms. The strength of the association was measured using odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals, and statistical significance was set at a value of P < 0.05. Result: The prevalence of menopausal symptoms was 89.9%. According to the menopausal rating scale, the frequency of reported symptoms was hot flushes (54.7%), muscle and joint pain (32.1%) on the somatic subscale; physical and mental exhaustion (55.1%), irritability (48.6%) on psychological subscale; and sexual problems (41.3%), bladder problems (39.2%) on urogenital subscale. This study also showed that the age of women [aOR: 0.317, 95%CI (0.102, 0.990)], and monthly family income [aOR = 0.182, 95% CI (0.041, 0.912)] were significantly associated with somatic menopausal symptoms. There was no utilization of menopausal hormonal therapy to treat menopausal symptoms and to prevent complications. Conclusion: The prevalence of menopausal symptoms is high; however, the utilization of individualized administration of menopausal hormone therapy according to symptoms is negligible. It appears essential for these institutions to work on service availability and delivery of menopausal hormone therapy for those in need of wider benefits for their clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study examined the association between menopausal symptoms and job satisfaction, and ascertained whether three psychosomatic factors (e.g., anxiety, depression, and sleep quality) interact with menopausal symptoms on job satisfaction. Methods: A cross-sectional design with sensitivity analysis was adopted. The participants of the study were clinical health workers in England. Data from 154 health workers were analyzed with the hierarchical linear regression (HLR) analysis. Results: There was a negative association between menopausal symptoms and job satisfaction (β = −0.38; t = −4.81, p < 0.001), but this relationship became non-significant after adjusting for work stress, self-reported health, job tenure, and resilience at work. An interaction between menopausal symptoms and the psychosomatic factors was found. The strength of the negative association between menopausal symptoms and job satisfaction was weakened by sleep quality (β = 0.05; t = 0.48; p > 0.05) but was strengthened by anxiety (β = −0.22; t = −2.28; p < 0.05) and depression (β = −0.24; t = −2.16; p < 0.05). Conclusion: Menopausal symptoms can be directly associated with lower job satisfaction and indirectly associated with lower job satisfaction through its interaction with depression and anxiety. Menopausal symptoms can weaken the positive association between sleep quality and job satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been evident that women and young people were less susceptible to severe infections compared to males. In a previous study, we observed a reduced prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in hormonal-driven breast cancer patients undergoing SERM (selective estrogen receptor modulator) therapy with respect to other treatments inhibiting estrogen synthesis. In addition to being used in anticancer therapy, SERMs are also prescribed for postmenopausal osteoporosis prevention and treatment. Therefore, in this study, a retrospective analysis of the clinical outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infections in a population of women over 50 years who were treated for the management of menopausal symptoms was performed. SARS-CoV-2 infections, hospitalizations, and death rates were evaluated in women residing in the Italian north-eastern Veneto Region who were undergoing treatment with Estrogen Modulators (EMs); Estrogen or Progestin, and their combination (EPs); Bisphosphonates (BIs); or cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) ± calcium supplementation (CC). The final cohort study included 124,393 women, of whom 6412 were found to be SARS-CoV-2 infected (CoV2+ve). The results indicated that only women treated with vitamin D3 alone or in combination with calcium showed a significant reduction in their SARS-CoV-2 infection risk by 26% (OR 0.74; 95%CI 0.60–0.91). On the other hand, an increased risk of hospitalization (OR 2.69; 95%CI 1.77–4.07) was shown for the same treatments. The results highlighted in this work contribute to shedding some light on the widely debated role of vitamin D in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infections and the disease's treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the effect of menopausal symptoms on general health status in postmenopausal women. Material and Methods: Our study is a descriptive type of study. It was conducted on 223 women aged 45-65 who applied to a family health center between October and November 2019 and at least 12 months had passed since their last menstrual period. A personal information form developed by the researcher, Menopause Symptom Scale (MSDS) and General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) were distributed to women who agreed to participate in the study. Descriptive statistics are used for individual information during statistical analysis of data. Chi-square test was used to evaluate the data obtained by counting. Results: The mean MSDS score for women was 22.72. In the General Health Survey, it was determined that the subsections most affected by menopausal symptoms experienced by women were somatic symptoms, anxiety, sleep disorders and depression, social functioning and depression. Highly significant positive relationships were found between the Menopause Symptoms Assessment Scale and its subscales experienced by women and GHQ-28. Conclusion: Menopause symptoms seen in postmenopausal women affect the general health of women. Women registered at the family health center need to plan menopause education and train regularly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Background This study examined the association between menopausal symptoms and job satisfaction, and ascertained whether three psychosomatic factors (e.g., anxiety, depression, and sleep quality) interact with menopausal symptoms on job satisfaction. Methods A cross-sectional design with sensitivity analysis was adopted. The participants of the study were clinical health workers in England. Data from 154 health workers were analyzed with the hierarchical linear regression (HLR) analysis. Results There was a negative association between menopausal symptoms and job satisfaction (β = −0.38; t = −4.81, p 0.05) but was strengthened by anxiety (β = −0.22; t = −2.28; p

Abstract Background The onset of menopause leads to diminished estrogen exposure, resulting in a high morbidity burden related to menopausal symptoms. Menopausal hormonal therapy is an effective therapy that offers more advantages than disadvantages for women aged less than 60 years or who have had menopause for less than 10 years. Objective This study aimed to assess the prevalence of menopausal symptoms, identify factors associated with menopausal symptoms, and assess the use of menopausal hormone therapy among women aged 40–60 who visited the gynecological clinics of three hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2022 to June 2022 at Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Tikur Anbessa Hospital, and Zewditu Memorial Hospital on 296 middle-aged women. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire and analyzed for sociodemographic factors, utilization of menopausal hormone therapy, and prevalence of menopausal symptoms using the menopause rating scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of each subscale of menopausal symptoms. The strength of the association was measured using odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals, and statistical significance was set at a value of P

Objective: To investigate the relationship of dyslipidemia and menopausal symptoms in Chinese menopausal women. Material and methods: A total of 989 eligible participants with menopausal syndrome were recruited from outpatient clinics in several cities in China. Menopausal symptoms were assessed using the Chinese Menopause Rating Scale (CMRS), the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), and the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). Serum lipid profile was measured using enzyme colorimetry. The relationship between lipid profile and menopausal symptoms was assessed using Student's t test/nonparametric Mann–Whitney U test, Spearman's correlation test, and binary logistic regression analysis. Results: Among the 989 patients, 527 had dyslipidemia while 462 did not. Patients with dyslipidemia had significantly higher Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) scores than those without (p < 0.001), while there was no significant difference in Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) scores. Patients without dyslipidemia had higher scores on the Chinese Menopause Rating Scale (CMRS) vascular dimension compared to those with dyslipidemia (p = 0.003). The correlation test revealed that variables associated with dyslipidemia included age (p = 0.031), CMRS hot flashes dimension score (P = 0.003), and SAS score (p < 0.001). Regression analysis demonstrated that BMI (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01–1.16, p = 0.027), SAS scores (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.07–1.13), vasomotor dimension (OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.83–0.95), physical dimension (OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.93–1.00), and social dimension (OR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.74–0.95) were independently associated with an increased risk of dyslipidemia. Conclusions: This study showed that anxiety was associated with an unfavorable lipid profile, and menopausal depression seemed to have no relationship with lipid profile, while vasomotor symptoms appeared to be a favorable factor for dyslipidemia in Chinese menopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Menopausal transition and post-menopausal periods can have short-term and long- term effects on mid-life health of women. The short-term effects include the possibility of experiencing of menopausal symptoms, while the long-term effects include cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk. The occurrence of menopausal symptoms varies widely within and between populations. Studies indicate that the frequency and severity of menopausal symptoms are linked to CVD risk factors, but the existing literature is divergent and somewhat limited. Thus, women belonging to different populations are likely to be at a different risk of CVD, but the exact physiological mechanism behind this relationship remains unclear. The present narrative review aimed to synthesize the available evidence of menopausal symptoms in association with various conventional CVD risk factors such as blood pressure, total cholesterol and blood glucose levels and obesity, as well as to determine the potential link between these two processes. We undertook a rigorous data base search to identify, examine, and critically assess the existing literature on the associations between menopausal symptoms and CVD risk factors. We applied inclusion and exclusion criteria to filter the retrieved articles and classified the literature into eight major categories. The risk of CVD is higher among women who experience vasomotor, psychological, and urogenital symptoms compared to those who do not experience these symptoms. Our review indicates that menopausal symptoms can be used as markers in assessing CVD risk factors during midlife. Thus there is a need for larger-scale research to support these findings and identify the potential mediators that are controlling this association.

Abstract Background Menopause, characterized by various physical and mental changes, is primarily caused by hormonal fluctuations, resulting in numerous complications. Recently, herbal treatments have gained significant attention for their minimal side effects compared to chemical drugs. This study aimed to investigate the effects of oral capsules containing Ocimum basilicum leaf extract (OBLE) on menopausal symptoms. Methods This placebo-controlled clinical trial study was conducted in 2020. The research focused on 60 menopausal women referred to Mashhad health centers. Eligible participants were administered either an OBLE 500 mg capsule or a placebo daily for 1 month. Menopause symptoms were evaluated using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) before, two weeks, and one month after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS21, independent t, Mann–Whitney, and Friedman tests. A significance level of p

Objective: This study aimed to document the prevalence and severity of vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and sexual symptoms among refugee women in Melbourne, Australia. Methods: This cross-sectional study included refugee women, aged 18–63 years, recruited from community centers and social media between February and July 2023. The Menopause-specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire measured VMS and sexual symptoms. The scores were compared between different menopausal states. Results: Of 333 participants, 62.8% were premenopausal, 8.0% perimenopausal and 29.2% postmenopausal, with a median age of 40 years (range 18–63 years). Moderate–severe VMS was most prevalent amongst perimenopausal (20.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.9–41.4%) versus postmenopausal (9.5%; 95% CI: 5.0–17.3%) and premenopausal (0%) women. Moderate–severe sexual symptoms affected 15.8% (95% CI: 5.2–39.3%) of perimenopausal and 16.9% (95% CI: 10.4–26.1%) of postmenopausal women versus 1.4% (95% CI: 0.3-5.3%) of premenopausal women. Perimenopausal and postmenopausal women had higher VMS and sexual symptom scores than premenopausal women (both p < 0.0001); the scores were also higher in perimenopausal women than postmenopausal women (p = 0.016 and p = 0.013, respectively). Conclusion: While perimenopausal and postmenopausal VMS and sexual symptoms are not uncommon amongst refugee women, these symptoms were less prevalent in postmenopausal refugees than in the non-refugee population. Further research is warranted to confirm and expand on these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between severity of menopausal symptoms and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among middle-aged Chinese women. Methods: A cross-sectional study recruited 9679 women aged 40–70 years from three socioeconomic regions of China in 2018. Menopausal symptoms were assessed by the modified Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI). The severity of individual symptoms was classified as none (0 points), mild (1 points) and moderate-to-severe symptoms (2–3 points), and overall menopausal symptoms were classified as none (<15 points), mild (15–24 points) or moderate-to-severe (≥25 points) according to the sum score of the KMI. Logistic regression models were used to examine associations of the severity of menopausal symptoms with CVD risk. Results: A total of 5.6% of participants reported being diagnosed with CVD. Overall menopausal symptoms were more common in women aged 60–70 years than in women aged 40–59 years. After multiple adjustment, mild (odds ratio [OR] = 2.07, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.64–2.61) and moderate-to-severe (OR = 2.64, 95% CI: 1.92–3.63) overall menopausal symptoms were associated with increased risk of CVD compared with no symptoms. Significant positive associations between the severity of individual menopausal symptoms and CVD risk were observed for all 13 items. Conclusion: The severity of menopausal symptoms was positively associated with CVD risk in middle-aged Chinese women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was carried out to determine the complementary and alternative treatment methods used by women in the postmenopausal period and their effects on menopausal symptoms and quality of life. Material-Method: This study was designed as a cross -sectional and correlational study, and it was conducted at a Family Health Center in a province in the Southeast Anatolia Region of Türkiye between March and August 2018. The sample consisted of 259 postmenopausal women aged 45-60 registered at the Family Health Center. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Menopause Rating Scale, and the Short -Form 36 (SF-36) Quality of Life Scale. The face-toface interview technique was employed for data collection. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation c oefficient, and multiple linear regression (MLR) analyses were used to analyze the data. Results: It was determined that 77.6% of the women in the postmenopausal period used complementary and alternative treatment methods to reduce menopausal symptoms. The analysis revealed that as postmenopausal women increasingly utilized nutrition, vitamins, and minerals as complementary and alternative medicine methods, their physical role limitations, a subdimension of quality of life, decreased (ß = -0.359; p < 0.05). Additionally, physical functioning, another subdimension of quality of life, improved with the increased use of mind -body techniques as a complementary and alternative medicine method (ß = 0.273; p < 0.05). Conclusion: Nutritional, vitamin, and mineral treatments were significant predictors of physical role limitations in postmenopausal women, which is a subdimension of quality of life. Similarly, mind-body techniques were found to be significant predictors of physical functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Menopause, characterized by various physical and mental changes, is primarily caused by hormonal fluctuations, resulting in numerous complications. Recently, herbal treatments have gained significant attention for their minimal side effects compared to chemical drugs. This study aimed to investigate the effects of oral capsules containing Ocimum basilicum leaf extract (OBLE) on menopausal symptoms. Methods: This placebo-controlled clinical trial study was conducted in 2020. The research focused on 60 menopausal women referred to Mashhad health centers. Eligible participants were administered either an OBLE 500 mg capsule or a placebo daily for 1 month. Menopause symptoms were evaluated using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) before, two weeks, and one month after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS21, independent t, Mann–Whitney, and Friedman tests. A significance level of p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The independent t-test indicated that the mean (SD) scores of menopausal symptoms in both the OBLE and placebo groups were initially similar before the intervention (P = 0.141). Two weeks after the intervention, the menopausal symptom scores were 9.5 ± 3.5 and 11.2 ± 5.6 in the OBLE and placebo groups, respectively (P = 0.163, df = 58, t = 1.4). After one month, the menopausal symptom scores were 6.9 ± 0.3 in the OBLE group and 11.26 ± 0.6 in the placebo group (P = 0.001, df = 58, t = 3.4). This indicates a significant difference between the two groups one month after the intervention, compared to before and two weeks after the intervention. Additionally, there was a significant difference in the scores of the physical and somato-vegetative dimension between the intervention and placebo groups two weeks and one month after the intervention (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The study results suggested that taking OBLE capsules led to a decrease in the scores of menopausal symptoms. This indicates that OBLE can be considered as a safe and cost-effective medicinal plant for alleviating menopausal symptoms among women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Breast cancer survivors commonly experience menopausal symptoms, specifically when undergoing antihormonal therapy. Unfortunately, they often have a restricted range of treatment options available to alleviate menopausal symptoms. The objective of this qualitative study was to explore breast cancer survivors’ experiences and effects of a yoga and meditation intervention supplementing previously reported RCT outcomes. Methods: The qualitative data included in this study were part of a larger randomized controlled trial which evaluated the efficacy and safety of a 12-week yoga and meditation intervention on menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors. All participants who underwent the yoga intervention (n = 19) were invited to take part in semi-structured interviews after all quantitative data collection had been completed. Interviews (n = 9) were recorded, transcribed, and then coded into superordinate themes using thematic analysis. Results: Nine female participants were interviewed, and the following themes emerged: (1) representations and expectations from the yoga intervention; (2) course structure and implementation; (3) perceptions and effects of the intervention (at emotional, physical, behavioral, and spiritual level); (4) differences between the study yoga intervention and other physical activities. Conclusions: In accordance with the accounts of participants, yoga might offer a promising intervention for breast cancer survivors. All those interviewed either currently attended a yoga class or expressed a desire to continue practicing yoga. Additionally, our findings inform future studies regarding aspects such as the importance of extending outcome measures beyond specific cancer-related complains, the advantages of addressing homogenous groups (i.e., breast cancer specific), or considering that different intervention components might need different assistance to encourage long-term use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Menopause is a delicate phase in the life cycle of women; therefore, it is crucial to develop a national policy that takes a personalized approach to treating menopause-related symptoms. Such a Program would aid in ensuring elderly women's quality of life and healthy life expectancy, while easing the social and financial burden of the symptoms. This study is done to study the prevalence of menopausal symptoms and perceptions of postmenopausal women. The objective of the study was to elaborate the prevalence of menopausal symptoms, menopause related quality of life and treatment seeking behavior of postmenopausal women. Materials & Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done among 211 postmenopausal women attending Obstetrics and Gynecology OPD at Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital. Questions were asked using a semi-structured, pretested questionnaire and menopause rating scale. The results were then analyzed. Results: The median age of menopause in this study was 45 (44-46) years. 81% of the population had one or more symptoms. Almost 48% of women sought treatment for their symptoms. Conclusion: The Majority of women did not seek advice for their symptoms due to a lack of knowledge. Improvement in awareness is a must to improve the quality of life in postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Menopause, marking the cessation of reproductive functions, triggers a cascade of physiological and psychological changes that can profoundly impact women’s wellbeing. This study aimed to determine the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Behaviors, Menopausal Symptoms and Quality of Sleep among Menopausal Women. Materials and Methods: The study adopted descriptive cross sectional research design. Results: Out of one hundred menopausal women assessed, maximum number of women were symptomatic with subjective expression of at least one symptom. The most commonly reported symptoms was anxiety (53%), depressive mood (51%), disturbed sleep (49%) accompanied by physical and mental exhaustion (44%). Majority (67%) of the women had moderate level of HPLP. Maximum of the women (68%) had sleep latency less than once per week. Conclusion: This study holds the potential to guide effective interventions that empower women to navigate this life transition with progressed health and wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: Palpitations are common and have a negative impact on womens quality of life. While evidence suggests that inflammatory mechanisms may play a role in the development of palpitations, no studies have evaluated for this association in patients with breast cancer who report palpitations prior to surgery. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate for associations between the occurrence of palpitations and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes for pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, their receptors, and transcriptional regulators. METHODS: Patients were recruited prior to surgery and completed a self-report questionnaire on the occurrence of palpitations. Genotyping of SNPs in cytokine genes was performed using a custom array. Multiple logistic regression analyses were done to identify associations between the occurrence of palpitations and SNPs in fifteen candidate genes. RESULTS: Of the 82 SNPs evaluated in the bivariate analyses, eleven SNPs in 6 genes were associated with the occurrence of palpitations. After controlling for functional status, the occurrence of back pain, and self-reported and genomic estimates of race/ethnicity, 3 SNPs in 3 different genes (i.e., interleukin (IL) 1-beta (IL1B) rs1143643, IL10 rs3024505, IL13 rs1295686) were associated with the occurrence of palpitations prior to surgery (all p ≤ .038). CONCLUSIONS: While these preliminary findings warrant replication, they suggest that inflammatory mechanisms may contribute to the subjective sensation of palpitations in women prior to breast cancer surgery.

Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) is a perennial plant used to treat menopause. This plant is known to have a serotonergic rather than estrogenic impact. It has been recommended to treat vasomotor symptoms associated with breast cancer patients. It also relieves symptoms such as night sweats and hot flashes, commonly called vasorelaxation. The variability in the study’s results, doses, and assessment methods requires more rigorous research to establish its efficacy and safety. Standardized trials are needed to provide more precise information on the benefits and limitations of menopause treatment, informing women seeking alternatives to hormone therapy. Black cohosh has shown the potential to reduce the frequency and intensity of vasomotor symptoms in breast cancer patients undergoing tamoxifen treatment. In addition to its effectiveness in alleviating night sweats and hot flashes, the vasorelaxation properties contribute to its overall positive impact on menopausal symptoms. Due to discrepancies, varying dosages, and assessment techniques, further comprehensive studies are essential to determine the optimal dosage, long-term safety, and overall efficacy. Only through standardized trials can women make informed decisions about black cohosh as a viable alternative to hormone therapy during menopause.

Objective To assess menopausal symptoms and determine awareness of menopausal related information in mid-aged women.Methods This was a cross-sectional study in which 140 women aged 40 to 60 years from Guayaquil, Ecuador were surveyed with the short 10-item Cervantes Scale (CS-10) and a questionnaire containing personal data and questions assessing awareness of menopause related information.Results The mean age of the sample was 48.0 ± 5.6 years. More than half of surveyed women had low education and non-urban residency, none were on menopausal hormone therapy, 33.6% had hypertension, 35% were postmenopausal, 78.6% had an increased body mass index (overweight/obese) and 92.9% had abdominal obesity (waist > 88 cm). The average CS-10 score was 15.3 ± 9.0 with a median of 14.0. The three most frequent menopausal symptoms were muscle-joint pain (75.0%), changes in skin texture (74.3%) and vaginal dryness (71.4%). Regarding awareness of information related to the menopause, it was found that 98.6% of women had no idea about what the menopause is and the average age of its onset. Interestingly, although 61.4% knew that during the menopause there is weight gain, 57.9% were sedentary. Married, postmenopausal, older and less educated women presented higher mean total CS-10 scores. Contrarily, those with less awareness of menopause related information present lower scores.Conclusion In this low-income mid-aged female sample there was a high rate of non-awareness regarding information related to the menopause, including an unhealthy cardiometabolic profile. There is a need for educational programs aimed to increase awareness in this high-risk population in relation to the surveyed aspects in order to improve their health status and prevent chronic conditions.

Purpose: This research was directed to determine the connection betwixt perceived gender roles and menopausal symptoms experienced in women. Material and Methods: The research was designed in descriptive type and was made in family centers in Turkey. The study group of the research consists of 465 women. "Personal Information Form", "Menopause Rating Scale" "BEM Gender Roles Inventory" were used to collect the data. Research data were evaluated with SPSS 27 and descriptive statistics, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Kruskal Wallis, Mann Whitney U test were used. Results: Women's MRS total mean score was 17.45±8.37, somatic complaints mean score was 6.39±3.50, psychological complaints mean score was 7.31±3.75, urogenital complaints mean score was 3,74±2,77. It was detected that 48.2% of the women adopted the androgynous role. A statistically discernible difference was detected betwixt the mean scores of MRS urogenital complaints according to the gender roles adopted by the women participating in the study (p=0.024<0.05). The mean urogenital complaints sub-dimension score of women who perceive themselves as masculine was found to be statistically significantly lower than the other gender role groups. Conclusion: It has been determined that women who describe themselves as masculine experience less urogenital complaints from menopausal symptoms than women who describe themselves as feminine, androgynous and ambiguous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Menopause is a physiological change in which the menstrual period permanently ends. Every woman experiences this transition in different ways between the ages of 40 and 55. Women may have menopausal symptoms as a result of low estrogen levels. Self-care is a practice which women can use to maintain their wellness. This study aimed to assess physical activity, self-care, and menopausal symptoms and their associations with selected variables. The results showed that women should adhere to postmenopausal guidelines (PMGs). A cross-sectional study was conducted among 212 menopausal women randomly selected from health centers in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. The international physical activity tool, a self-care questionnaire, and the Kupperman menopausal index scale were used to assess women's physical activity, self-care, and menopausal symptoms, respectively. The chi-square and Pearson correlation tests were used for analysis. The women were 55.01 ± 6.87 years old, and 40.6% reached menopause between the ages of 46 and 50 years; 57.1% of the women had low physical activity, which was associated with menopausal symptoms (p < 0.022). The highest mean score (29.63 ± 5.83) was obtained for physical health, while the lowest (11.92 ± 3.58) was found in self-care screening tests. Regarding menopausal symptoms, 25.9% had mild, 69.8% had moderate, and 4.3% had severe symptoms. A significant association was found between menopausal symptoms and age, menopausal age, education, body mass index, and PMGs awareness at p < 0.001. Self-care positively correlated with menopausal symptoms (p < 0.001). Therefore, attention should be given to women's adherence to PMGs so that they can enjoy healthier lives after menopause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Van Health Sciences Journal / Van Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Van Yuzuncu Yil University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Menopause is a natural developmental phase that all women go through from their early forties to mid-fifties, marking the transition from the reproductive to the non-reproductive years. This is characterised as the permanent cessation of menses due to progressive ovarian failure. Each woman's experience of the menopause is unique. Biopsychosocial changes occur during this time with some symptoms affecting up to 80 % of women and lasting for 4–5 years from the peri- to post-menopause. Reduced oestrogen may predispose some women to health issues following menopause, such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cognitive decline. It is vital to understand how to promote health and well-being to reduce the risk of developing chronic conditions in later life. Increased symptoms and concerns about health during the menopausal transition can be cues to action for some women to actively maintain their health. Menopause represents a window of opportunity to promote health, and to support women to make healthier lifestyle choices, part of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines for menopause management. Identifying appropriate strategies to change behaviour is less clear. Theories of behaviour change can provide frameworks to gain more insight into the facilitators and barriers to behaviour and can inform the researcher on what needs to change. This information can be used to inform the design, content, implementation and evaluation of a lifestyle intervention. This review paper will explore the impact of menopause on health and well-being generally, and the benefits of designing more effective theory-driven behaviour change interventions for menopause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Menopausal transition and post-menopausal periods can have short-term and long- term effects on mid-life health of women. The short-term effects include the possibility of experiencing of menopausal symptoms, while the long-term effects include cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk. The occurrence of menopausal symptoms varies widely within and between populations. Studies indicate that the frequency and severity of menopausal symptoms are linked to CVD risk factors, but the existing literature is divergent and somewhat limited. Thus, women belonging to different populations are likely to be at a different risk of CVD, but the exact physiological mechanism behind this relationship remains unclear. The present narrative review aimed to synthesize the available evidence of menopausal symptoms in association with various conventional CVD risk factors such as blood pressure, total cholesterol and blood glucose levels and obesity, as well as to determine the potential link between these two processes. We undertook a rigorous data base search to identify, examine, and critically assess the existing literature on the associations between menopausal symptoms and CVD risk factors. We applied inclusion and exclusion criteria to filter the retrieved articles and classified the literature into eight major categories. The risk of CVD is higher among women who experience vasomotor, psychological, and urogenital symptoms compared to those who do not experience these symptoms. Our review indicates that menopausal symptoms can be used as markers in assessing CVD risk factors during midlife. Thus there is a need for larger-scale research to support these findings and identify the potential mediators that are controlling this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze the association of the severity of the menopausal symptoms with musculoskeletal pain in Portuguese postmenopausal women. Methods: A cross‐sectional, observational study was conducted on 167 women (63.85 ± 9.36 years). The Menopause Rating Scale was used to evaluate the menopausal symptoms severity, while the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was employed to assess the localization of the musculoskeletal pain, and multi‐located pain was determined if two or more body regions were affected. Depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), age, body mass index (BMI) and physical activity level were considered as potential confounders. Results: A greater severity of the somato‐vegetative menopausal symptoms was related to the prevention from usual activities because of pain in the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists/hands and knees (R2 of Nagelkerke = 0.064, 0.043, 0.074, 0.045 and 0.045, respectively). Associations were also observed between greater age and pain in the knees, ankles and feet (R2 of Nagelkerke = 0.036 and 0.034, respectively), and being physically inactive with upper back pain (R2 of Nagelkerke = 0.060). Higher depressive symptoms were linked to pain in the hip/thighs and knees (R2 of Nagelkerke = 0.067 and 0.085, respectively), as well as being physically inactive was related ton in the neck (R2 of Nagelkerke = 0.053). Only a greater BMI was related to multi‐located pain in the last 7 days (R2 of Nagelkerke = 0.041). Conclusions: The findings of our study showed that, taking into account possible confounders, greater severity of the menopausal symptoms at a somatic‐vegetative level was associated with more anatomical regions with musculoskeletal pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between health-promotion behaviour and psychological distress and whether menopausal symptoms and social support mediate these relationships in patients with breast cancer receiving endocrine therapy. Study design: This was a cross-sectional study involving convenience sampling that involved 226 patients with breast cancer. Main outcome measures: Participants were investigated by self-reporting questionnaires that included demographic and clinical information, the Kessler psychological distress scale, the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile Ⅱ, the Menopause Rating Scale, and the Perceived Social Support Survey to measure psychological distress, health-promoting behaviour, menopausal symptoms, and social support, respectively. Mediation analyses were conducted with the bootstrapping method to test for mediating factors. Results: In total, 78.7% patients reported that they were suffering from psychological distress. Their health-promoting behaviours were directly and negatively associated with psychological distress. In addition, health-promoting behaviour had a significant indirect effect on psychological distress through menopausal symptoms and social support. Mediating effects accounted for 34.8% and 27.6% of the total effect, respectively. Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of psychological distress in patients with breast cancer receiving endocrine therapy. Menopausal symptoms and social support mediated the association between health-promoting behaviour and psychological distress. Health professionals should evaluate menopausal symptoms and health lifestyles, and provide professional interventions to increase health-promoting behaviours and manage unpleasant somatic symptoms for patients and their caregivers; these actions may improve their psychological distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This updated systematic review and meta‐analysis aims to confirm the effectiveness of plant‐based supplements in improving overall menopausal symptoms and vasomotor symptoms. A systematic review of the literature was conducted by searching the PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases up to June 2022. Randomized placebo‐controlled clinical trials that evaluated the effects of dietary supplements on menopausal symptoms were included. Outcome measures included daily hot flash frequency, Kupperman's index, Menopause Rating Scale, and Greene Climacteric Scale. Pooled data were analyzed using a fixed‐effects model and expressed as a weighted mean difference with a 95% confidence interval for continuous outcomes. For qualitative assessment, 67 studies were selected. For quantitative assessment, 54 reports were obtained from 61 studies. The study participants were peri‐ or postmenopausal women aged 38–85, most of whom experienced hot flashes as a menopausal symptom. The investigational products included 28 soy‐derived, 6 red clover‐derived, and 28 other plant‐derived supplements. Qualitative assessment revealed that approximately 76% of the studies were generally of fair or good quality, whereas 24% were of low quality. Meta‐analysis results indicated significant improvements in all questionnaire scores, including hot flash frequency, in the dietary supplement group compared with the placebo group. Comprehensive evaluation using different questionnaire tools showed that the various plant‐derived dietary supplements can significantly alleviate menopausal symptoms. However, further rigorous studies are needed to determine the association of plant‐derived dietary supplements with menopausal health because of the general suboptimal quality and heterogeneous nature of current evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Menstrual problems affected by mothers or learned from mothers may continue for a lifetime. Understanding these factors may enable symptoms to be controlled. We aimed to compare premenstrual symptoms of daughters with their mothers' previous premenstrual and menopausal complaints and thought it might be a useful contribution for managing menstrual periods. METHODS: Postmenopausal women who applied to gynecology and obstetrics policlinic and their menstruating adult daughters were clinically evaluated with psychiatrist clinician interview. Menopause rating scale(MRS) and premenstrual syndrome scale(PMSS) for previous were applied to mothers, and PMSS to daughters. Sociodemographic characteristics were also evaluated. Results were compared in SPSS 26.0 program. RESULTS: There were 55 mother-daughter couples participated in the study. The mean age of daughters was 25.54 +- 6.4 years, of mothers was 55.23 +- 8.31 years. Anxiety, depressive thoughts, sleep, bloating symptoms of PMSS in both groups were similar (p=0.366, p=0.532, p=0.104, p=0.096 respectively), however depressive mood, fatigue, appetite, pain symptoms were different (p=0.003, p=0.031, p=0.010, p=0.001 respectively). Anxiety and fatigue symptoms of daughters were positively correlated with psychological menopausal symptoms of mothers (r=.334*, p=.013 and r=.302*, p=.025 respectively), however daughters' PMSS scores weren't correlated to mothers' somatic menopausal symptoms. Daughters' pain scores were correlated to mothers' urogenital menopausal symptoms o(r=.307*, p=.023). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Premenstrual symptoms of daughters were related to some of their mothers' previous premenstrual and current menopausal problems. The investigation of social relationship between PMS and menopause may play role in determining methods for managing menstruel periods. But long-term, large-populated prospective follow-up studies may provide more evidence.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been evident that women and young people were less susceptible to severe infections compared to males. In a previous study, we observed a reduced prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in hormonal-driven breast cancer patients undergoing SERM (selective estrogen receptor modulator) therapy with respect to other treatments inhibiting estrogen synthesis. In addition to being used in anticancer therapy, SERMs are also prescribed for postmenopausal osteoporosis prevention and treatment. Therefore, in this study, a retrospective analysis of the clinical outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infections in a population of women over 50 years who were treated for the management of menopausal symptoms was performed. SARS-CoV-2 infections, hospitalizations, and death rates were evaluated in women residing in the Italian north-eastern Veneto Region who were undergoing treatment with Estrogen Modulators (EMs); Estrogen or Progestin, and their combination (EPs); Bisphosphonates (BIs); or cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) ± calcium supplementation (CC). The final cohort study included 124,393 women, of whom 6412 were found to be SARS-CoV-2 infected (CoV2+ve). The results indicated that only women treated with vitamin D3 alone or in combination with calcium showed a significant reduction in their SARS-CoV-2 infection risk by 26% (OR 0.74; 95%CI 0.60–0.91). On the other hand, an increased risk of hospitalization (OR 2.69; 95%CI 1.77–4.07) was shown for the same treatments. The results highlighted in this work contribute to shedding some light on the widely debated role of vitamin D in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infections and the disease’s treatment.

Menopause marks the end of menstrual cyclicity and, depending on individual vulnerability, has several consequences related to gonadal steroid deprivation, especially if it is premature. Menopause may be more burdensome for some women than for others. Individual factors, such as personal history, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and current health conditions, affect symptomatology and, thereby, the menopausal experience. In addition, some menopausal symptoms, such as severe hot flashes, sleep disorders, and depression, are markers of future health risks. Counseling is a fundamental part of health care in the peri‐ and postmenopause periods. It must include an assessment of the patient's symptoms, needs, desires, and risk profile to address the benefits and risks of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) on an individual basis and promote a healthy lifestyle. Indeed, healthcare practitioners can and must protect the health and lives of mid‐life women by increasing awareness of menopausal symptoms and ensuring healthcare options, especially MHT. The type and duration of MHT should be tailored based on the patient's history, menopausal age, physical characteristics, and current health status so that the benefits always outweigh the risks. This FIGO position paper focuses on the benefits and risks of MHT on health domains, target organs, and systems, and on systemic and vaginal MHT regimens, to provide indications that can be used in the clinical practice for menopausal counseling. Moreover, it offers insights into what FIGO considers the mainstay for the healthcare management of women in peri‐ and postmenopause, worldwide. Synopsis: The increase in life expectancy has made post‐reproductive health a global priority. Counseling on the benefits and risks of menopausal hormone therapy and lifestyle education is fundamental. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) is recommended to women with a pathogenic BRCA variant, but as a main side effect, RRSO could lead to an early onset of menopause. Aim: To evaluate the impact of RRSO and preoperative menopausal status on menopausal symptoms, sexual functioning, and quality of life (QOL). Methods: The study was conducted between November 2019 and April 2020. Women were included who tested positive for a pathogenic BRCA1/2 variant between 2015 and 2018. Depression levels, QOL, and global health status were measured and compared with those of women who opted against RRSO. Furthermore, women who underwent RRSO treatment were asked to report menopausal complaints that they experienced at 1 month postsurgery and any current complaints. Outcomes: RRSO had no significant impact on QOL, but women who were premenopausal at the time of surgery reported more sexual complaints than postmenopausal women. Results: In total, 134 carriers of a BRCA mutation were included: 90 (67%) underwent RRSO and 44 (33%) did not. At the time of the survey, neither the control nor experimental group experienced significant changes in QOL (b = –0.18, P = .59). Women who underwent RRSO reported a significantly lower global health status (b = –0.66, P = .05). Women who were premenopausal at the time of surgery were bothered more by sexual symptoms (b = 0.91, P = .19) but experienced fewer vasomotor complaints (b = –1.09, P = .13) than women who were postmenopausal at the time of RRSO. Clinical Implications: The decrease of sexual functioning after RRSO should be an integral part of preoperative counseling because it is important for BRCA carriers, especially for premenopausal women. Strengths and Limitations: Some strengths of the present study were the long follow-up, a high response rate, and the existence of a control group, whereas defining menopausal status by last menstrual bleeding and self-report of data (eg, breast cancer history) increased the risk of errors. Conclusion: Our study indicated that women who underwent RRSO experienced no difference in QOL when compared with women without RRSO and that patients with premenopausal status seemed to be at higher risk to experience sexual complaints after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) is a perennial plant used to treat menopause. This plant is known to have a serotonergic rather than estrogenic impact. It has been recommended to treat vasomotor symptoms associated with breast cancer patients. It also relieves symptoms such as night sweats and hot flashes, commonly called vasorelaxation. The variability in the study's results, doses, and assessment methods requires more rigorous research to establish its efficacy and safety. Standardized trials are needed to provide more precise information on the benefits and limitations of menopause treatment, informing women seeking alternatives to hormone therapy. Black cohosh has shown the potential to reduce the frequency and intensity of vasomotor symptoms in breast cancer patients undergoing tamoxifen treatment. In addition to its effectiveness in alleviating night sweats and hot flashes, the vasorelaxation properties contribute to its overall positive impact on menopausal symptoms. Due to discrepancies, varying dosages, and assessment techniques, further comprehensive studies are essential to determine the optimal dosage, long-term safety, and overall efficacy. Only through standardized trials can women make informed decisions about black cohosh as a viable alternative to hormone therapy during menopause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The role of hormonal replacement therapy in menopause is under debate. The premature closure of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study in 2002 is still a source of concern among treating physicians. Objectives: The interest in alternatives to conventional hormone therapy has significantly increased. The adoption of personalized steroid hormone galenic preparations, formulated by compounding pharmacies, has recently spread. Methods: In June 2023, an extensive literature search was conducted by different authors to identify relevant studies in various databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane). The studies that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were further analyzed, and relevant data were extracted and analyzed for each paper. Any discrepancies between the investigators were resolved through a consensus approach. Outcomes: The primary outcomes observed included the clinical utility of CBHT. This study reviewed the current evidence on the utility of compounded bioidentical hormones, concluding that improving knowledge and awareness of bioidentical hormones is necessary to consider their use in clinical practice. Conclusion and Outlook: These formulations might provide effective options to best tailor therapies to each patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Menopause occurs around midlife and is an inevitable component of women's aging. The study aimed to investigate the associations between the lifetime prevalence of menopausal symptoms and health-related characteristics among Israeli postmenopausal women aged 55–75 years. Additionally, this study aimed to estimate the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and women's attitudes toward this treatment. Data for this study were extracted from a cross-sectional national telephone survey conducted in Israel between 2018 and 2020. For the current study, only postmenopausal women aged 55–75 years were included. Multivariate analyses were used to identify demographic and health-related characteristics associated with menopausal symptoms. The study included 688 participants. Most (68.8%) reported one or more menopausal symptoms, specifically vasomotor symptoms (50.4%). According to the multivariate logistic regression analysis, menopausal symptoms were associated with moderate-high anxiety and/or depression symptoms (OR = 2.01, 95% CI 1.12–3.58) and with osteoporosis (OR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.08–2.92). Although most (78.3%) symptomatic women were bothered by their symptoms, 29.1% received any treatment for symptom relief and only 12.6% reported current or past use of HRT. The findings show that menopausal symptoms were associated with a higher prevalence of anxiety and/or depression symptoms and osteoporosis in the years following menopause. Most symptomatic women did not receive any treatment and the majority were against HRT. Knowledge and awareness about menopause and treatment options should be increased among Israeli women. Additionally, the promotion of positive attitudes toward menopause and HRT use among women and healthcare providers is strongly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Fenerbahce University Journal of Health Sciences (FBU-JOSH) / Fenerbahçe Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Fenerbahce University Journal of Health Sciences (FBU-JOSH) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Menstrual problems affected by mothers or learned from mothers may continue for a lifetime. Understanding these factors may enable symptoms to be controlled. We aimed to compare premenstrual symptoms of daughters with their mothers' previo us premenstrual and menopausal complaints and thought it might be a useful contribution for managing menstrual periods. Materials and Methods: Postmenopausal women who applied to gynecology and obstetrics policlinic and their menstruating adult daughters were clinically evaluated with psychiatrist clinician interview. Menopause rating scale(MRS) and premenstrual syndrome scale(PMSS) for previous were applied to mothers, and PMSS to daughters. Sociodemographic characteristics were also evaluated . Results were compared in SPSS 26.0 program. Results: There were 55 mother-daughter couples participated in the study. The mean age of daughters was 25.54±6.4 years, of mothers was 55.23±8.31 years. Anxiety, depressive thoughts, sleep, bloating symptoms of PMSS in both groups were similar, however dep ressive mood, fatigue, appetite, pain symptoms were different. Anxiety and fatigue symptoms of daughters were positively correlated with psychological menopausal symptoms of mothers, however daughters' PMSS scores weren't correlated to mothers' somatic menopausa l symptoms. Daughters' pain scores were correlated to mothers' urogenital menopausal symptoms. Conclusion: Premenstrual symptoms of daughters were related to some of their mothers' previous premenstrual and current menopausal problems. The investigation of social relationship between PMS and menopause may play role in determining methods for managing menstruel periods. But long-term, large-populated prospective follow-up studies may provide more evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the symptoms experienced by women in the menopausal period with the menopausal symptoms assessment scale and to determine its effect on the quality of life with the menopause-specific quality of life scale. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with menopausal women who applied to the Health Sciences University Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic. 314 female participants participated in the study and a face-to-face survey was conducted with these participants. Results: Type of family, presence of chronic diseases, the status of going to a gynecologist for control purposes, the way of perceiving menopause, how she evaluated her marriage, going to the doctor for menopausal complaints, where they got their relevant information, the state of getting treatment for menopause, their relationship with their partner after menopause, the menopause itself affecting and feeling pain in the body after menopause effect of all these parameters. Conclusion: According to our study results, the symptoms observed during the menopausal period affect the quality of life of women. Physicians should evaluate the factors known to be effective on symptoms in the menopausal period and produce personalized treatment programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the prevalence of menopausal symptoms and factors related to severity in mid-aged women.Methods: Cross-sectional study in which 216 urban-living women from Asunción-Paraguay (40–60 years) were surveyed with the 10 item Cervantes Scale (CS-10) and a general questionnaire (personal and partner data).Results: Median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of the sample was 48 [9] years, 48.1% were postmenopausal, 8.8% used menopausal hormone therapy, 39.4% psychotropic drugs, 43.5% had hypertension, 6.5% diabetes, 51.9% abdominal obesity, and 89.3% had a partner (n = 193). A history of sexual abuse was present in 2.8%. Median total CS-10 score was 8.5 [9.75]. Overall, 93.3% (180/193) of women having a partner were sexually active, with a median coital frequency of 8 times per month. According to the CS-10, the three most prevalent menopausal symptoms were: aching in muscles and/or joints (70.8%), anxiety and nervousness (70.8%) and hot flashes/night sweats (54.2%). Factors associated with higher CS-10 scores were: female age and educational level, marital status, menopausal status, and marital sexual aspects. Partner educational level was inversely correlated (rho Spearman coefficient) with CS-10 total scores. However, multiple linear regression analysis found that higher total CS-10 scores (more severe menopausal symptoms) negatively correlated to coital frequency and positively correlated with peri- and postmenopausal status, parity, sedentary lifestyle and a history of sexual abuse.Conclusion: Menopausal symptoms in this mid-aged urban female Paraguayan sample were related to hormonal, sexual and other female aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) is recommended for climacteric peri- and postmenopausal symptoms. The rate of use of MHT in China is much lower than the western regions. Therefore, a survey was conducted for the understanding and utilization of MHT among clinical staff in various hospitals of China. A total of 3216 eligible questionnaires were included for the evaluation. According to 19.2% participant opinion, MHT could relieve menopausal symptoms, whereas the majority had no knowledge of the benefits and risks of MHT. The most common concern about MHT was the risk of cancer and about 430 (13.4%) and 176 (5.5%) participants were apprehensive that MHT could increase the risk of breast and endometrial cancer, respectively. This survey demonstrated that the knowledge of clinical staff was not comprehensive and they should be educated more about the use of MHT so that this knowledge can be imbibed into the general population. What is already known on this subject? Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) is recommended for climacteric peri- and postmenopausal symptoms. The rate of use of MHT in China is much lower than the western regions. What do the results of this study add? Only 19.2% of the respondents were of the opinion that MHT could relieve menopausal symptoms. The most common concern about MHT was the risk of cancer and about 430 (13.4%) and 176 (5.5%) participants were apprehensive that MHT could increase the risk of breast and endometrial cancer. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The survey demonstrated that Chinese medical professionals had some understanding about MHT, but their knowledge was not comprehensive. Thus, it is necessary to educate these medical professionals which in turn will help them to imbibe this knowledge among the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer (BC) ranks first in cancer incidence among women. For successful treatment of BC, depending on the molecular type and stage of the disease, chemotherapy is used, the side effects of which are manifested by menopausal symptoms, sexual dysfunction, and depressive states. However, not all patients after BC receive appropriate therapy for menopausal symptoms, what significantly worsens their quality of life. One of the symptoms that brings the most severe discomfort is the vasomotor symptom, a form of temperature dysfunction with peripheral vasodilation and increased cutaneous blood flow that results in increased heat loss. There are several types of drugs that are used to prevent menopausal symptoms in patients taking endocrine chemotherapy, many of which are in the experimental phase of development. In this review, we will try to identify proven effective and safe methods for correcting menopausal symptoms in women who underwent chemotherapy and endocrine therapy for BC.

Abstract Background The scale-up of antiretroviral therapy programmes has resulted in increased life expectancy of people with HIV in Africa. Little is known of the menopausal experiences of African women, including those living with HIV. We aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of self-reported menopause symptoms in women at different stages of menopause transition, by HIV status, and evaluate how symptoms are related to health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We further sought to understand factors associated with menopause symptoms. Methods A cross-sectional study recruited women resident in Harare, Zimbabwe, sampled by age group (40–44/45–49/50–54/55–60 years) and HIV status. Women recruited from public-sector HIV clinics identified two similarly aged female friends (irrespective of HIV status) with phone access. Socio-demographic and medical details were recorded and women staged as pre-, peri- or post-menopause. The Menopausal Rating Scale II (MRS), which classified symptom severity, was compared between those with and without HIV. Linear and logistic regression determined factors associated with menopause symptoms, and associations between symptoms and HRQoL. Results The 378 women recruited (193[51.1%] with HIV), had a mean (SD) age of 49.3 (5.7) years; 173 (45.8%), 51 (13.5%) and 154 (40.7%) were pre-, peri and post-menopausal respectively. Women with HIV reported more moderate (24.9% vs. 18.1%) and severe (9.7% vs. 2.6%) menopause symptoms than women without HIV. Peri-menopausal women with HIV reported higher MRS scores than those pre- and post-menopausal, whereas in HIV negative women menopausal stage was not associated with MRS score (interaction p-value = 0.014). With increasing severity of menopause symptoms, lower mean HRQoL scores were observed. HIV (OR 2.02[95% CI 1.28, 3.21]), mood disorders (8.80[2.77, 28.0]), ≥ 2 falls/year (4.29[1.18, 15.6]), early menarche (2.33[1.22, 4.48]), alcohol consumption (2.16[1.01, 4.62]), food insecurity (1.93[1.14, 3.26]) and unemployment (1.56[0.99, 2.46]), were all associated with moderate/severe menopause symptoms. No woman reported use of menopausal hormone therapy. Conclusions Menopausal symptoms are common and negatively impact HRQoL. HIV infection is associated with more severe menopause symptoms, as are several modifiable factors, including unemployment, alcohol consumption, and food insecurity. Findings highlight an unmet health need in ageing women in Zimbabwean, especially among those living with HIV.