Trial reportBMC women's health2020
Women's views about physical activity as a treatment for vasomotor menopausal symptoms: a qualitative study.
Trial report in BMC women's health, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 33 citations in OpenAlex.
- Therapeutic efficacy of botanicals in psychological disorders in menopausal women: a systematic and scoping review.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2025Pooled it
- Pooled it
- The barriers and enablers to accessing sexual health and sexual well-being services for midlife women (aged 40-65 years) in high-income countries: A mixed-methods systematic review.Women's health (London, England)Pooled it
- Effects of exercise training on vasomotor symptoms and quality of life in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial.BMC women's health · 2025Trial
- Obscured Rhythms: Using Rhythmanalysis to Understand How Symptoms Associated With Menopause Shape Everyday Experiences of Physical Activity.Sociology of health & illness · 2026Article
- Association Between Hormone Replacement Therapy and Incidence of Tendon Injuries and Surgical Repair in Perimenopausal Women: A Propensity Score-Matched National Cohort Study.Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine · 2026Article
- Moving through menopause: a mixed methods study of UK women's experiences of being physically active during the menopause life stage.Menopause (New York, N.Y.) · 2026Article
- Middle-aged Korean women's experiences of physical activity during the transition to menopause: a grounded theory approach.Women's health nursing (Seoul, Korea) · 2025Article
- Experience of the menopause transition in Irish women and how it impacts motivators, facilitators, and barriers to physical activity engagement.BMC women's health · 2024Article
- Perceived lack of behavioral control is a barrier to a healthy lifestyle in post-menopause: a qualitative study.Journal of health, population, and nutrition · 2024Article
- Menopause and the role of physical activity - The views and knowledge of women aged 40-65.Post reproductive health · 2024Article
- The Impact of Physical Activity and Inactivity on Cardiovascular Risk across Women's Lifespan: An Updated Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2023Review
- Examining the Health-Related Needs of Females during Menopause: A Systematic Review Study.Journal of menopausal medicine · 2023Review
- Prediction of climacteric syndrome development in perimenopausal women with hypothyroidism.Przeglad menopauzalny = Menopause review · 2022Article
- The Systemic Effects of Exercise on the Systemic Effects of Alzheimer's Disease.Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
- Qigong for Muscle Strength and Static Postural Control in Middle-Aged and Older Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Frontiers in medicine · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundWomen commonly seek medical advice about menopausal symptoms. Although menopausal hormone therapy is the most effective treatment, many women prefer non-pharmacological treatments, such as physical activity. The effectiveness of physical activity has been inconclusive when assessed by randomised controlled trials, and it remains unclear how women feel about it as a possible treatment approach. The aim of the study was to explore symptomatic menopausal women's views and experiences of physical activity as a treatment for vasomotor and other menopausal symptoms.
methodsAn in-depth qualitative study was embedded within a randomised controlled trial that assessed the effectiveness of physical activity as a treatment for vasomotor menopausal symptoms in previously inactive vasomotor symptomatic women. Participants were randomised to one of two physical activity interventions or a usual care group. Both physical activity interventions involved two one-to-one consultations, plus either supporting materials or access to physical activity support groups, over 6 months. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 purposively selected participants from all three trial groups after they had completed trial follow-up. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed by constant comparison.
resultsAll participants talked positively about physical activity as a treatment for their menopausal symptoms, with most reporting participation had improved their hot flushes and night sweats. They reported that they had experienced improved sleep, physical health and psychological well-being. Those who received the physical activity plus social-support intervention reported their ability to cope with their menopausal symptoms had improved. Many participants commented that they would prefer doctors to discuss physical activity as a possible treatment for their hot flushes and night sweats, before offering medication.
conclusionsBased on the views and experiences of the women who participated in this study, healthcare professionals should continue discussing physical activity as a potential first treatment option with menopausal women. Furthermore, healthcare professionals should ensure they prepare, support, and encourage these women both physically and emotionally.
trial registrationISRCTN ISRCTN06495625 Registered 10/11/2010.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.