Menopause

Barriers to the safe discussion of the experience and management of menopausal symptoms: A systematic literature review (2025)

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Type of publication:

Journal article

Author(s):

Thavabalan, Karish; *Ovenell, Alistair; Pierce, Poppy; Sutaria, Aman; Parkhouse, Annabelle; Baydemir, Numan; Lally, Theodore.

Citation:

Maturitas. 201:108683, 2025 Aug 05.

Abstract:

As the number of women experiencing menopause continues to rise each year, the need for open and supportive discussions around the experience and management of menopausal symptoms becomes more imperative. Although research has identified numerous challenges women face during this life stage, many studies examine these barriers in isolated settings. Furthermore, how these challenges impact women's ability to safely discuss menopause remains poorly understood. This systematic literature review
sought to identify and synthesise the barriers that hinder safe discussions about the experience and management of menopausal symptoms. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, 21 qualitative studies were included. Six themes were identified regarding symptom experience: lack of support from friends and family, lack of workplace support, fear of menopause onset, variation in symptom experience, poor-quality information, and societal judgement. Two themes were identified regarding symptom management: perceived onus to endure symptoms and poor experiences with healthcare professionals. Notably, the themes revealed widespread shortcomings that collectively hinder safe discussions about menopause. Future work should prioritise intersectional approaches that tackle barriers across home, social, work, and healthcare settings. Proactive measures, such as placing a greater emphasis on menopause in medical education and developing culturally relevant resources, are crucial for fostering safe, informed discussions and improving care for all women.

DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2025.108683

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Folic Acid Supplementation in Postmenopausal Women with Hot Flushes: Phase III Randomised Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial (2021)

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Type of publication:
Randomised controlled trial

Author(s):
Ayman Ewies, Ikhlaq Ahmed, Farook Alazzawi, Joan Pitkin, Pratima Gupta, Mojca Persic, *Banchhita Sahu, Alaa El-Ghobashy, Lisa Barraclough, Jacqueline Woodman, Jaspreet Babrah, Sarah Bowdem, Deborah Stocken, Lucinda Billingham, Sudha Sundar, Daniel Rea

Citation:
BJOG; November 2021; Volume128, Issue12, Pages 2024-2033

Abstract:
Objective: To assess whether folic acid supplementation ameliorates hot flushes. Design: Double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised trial. Setting: Nine hospitals in England. Population: Postmenopausal women experiencing ≥50 hot flushes weekly. Methods: Women (n=164) were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive folic acid 5mg tablet or placebo daily for 12 weeks. Participants recorded frequency and severity of hot flushes in Sloan Diary daily and completed Greene Climacteric and Utian Quality of Life (UQoL) Scales at 4-weekly intervals. Main Outcome Measures: The change in daily Hot Flush Score at week-12 from randomisation based on Sloan Diary Composite Score B calculation. Results: Data of 143 (87%) women was available for the primary outcome. The mean change (SD) in Hot Flush Score at week-12 was -6.98 (10.30) and -4.57 (9.46) for folic acid and placebo group, respectively. The difference between groups in the mean change was -2.41 (95% CI: -5.68, 0.87), p=0.149 and in the adjusted mean change was -2.61 (95% CI: -5.72, 0.49) with p=0.098. There was an increased benefit in the folic acid group regarding changes in total and emotional UQoL scores at week-8 when compared with placebo. The difference in the mean change from baseline was 5.22 (95% CI: 1.16, 9.28) and 1.88 (95% CI: 0.23, 3.52) for total and emotional score, respectively. Conclusions: Folic acid had a greater benefit in reducing Hot Flush Score over 12 weeks in postmenopausal women when compared with placebo; however, the difference did not reach statistical significance. Definitive evidence of benefit requires a larger study.

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