Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42087841›Full record

SynthesisBJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology2026

Factors Associated With Menopause Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Janice Hoang, Kathryn Halliday, Deborah Allen, Wema Meranda Mtika, Eve Tranter, Grace Glover, Lynn Tatnell, Julia Hippisley-Cox, Carol Coupland, Sarah Hillman and 1 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Janice HoangNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-4821-5115
Kathryn HallidayNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Deborah AllenNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Wema Meranda MtikaNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1242-4889
Eve TranterNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Grace GloverNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Lynn TatnellNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Julia Hippisley-CoxWolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
Carol CouplandNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Sarah HillmanDepartment of Applied Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Jennifer HirstNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8416-2159

Funding

National Institute for Health and Care Research
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMenopause, marked by hormonal decline and menstrual cessation, is associated with various symptoms. Socio-demographic and behavioural factors may influence symptom type and severity. Understanding these associations can inform better symptom management.

objectivesTo identify factors associated with the presence and severity of menopausal symptoms through systematic review and meta-analysis. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched Medline, Embase, CINAHL and Cochrane for studies on demographic, behavioural, or health factors linked to vasomotor, vaginal dryness and joint symptoms in women aged 40-60. SELECTION CRITERIA: Studies reporting odds ratios or raw numbers for symptom presence or severity were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Studies were combined for meta-analysis, reporting odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Quality assessment was performed to quantify the risk of bias.

resultsOf 9228 screened articles, 61 were meta-analysed. Compared with White women, Black women had higher odds of vasomotor symptom presence (OR 1.65, 1.41-1.94) and severity (OR 1.91, 1.10-3.29), and vaginal dryness presence (OR 1.27, 1.10-1.47), while Asian had lower vasomotor symptom presence and severity (OR 0.40, 0.22-0.72; OR 0.55, 0.53-0.56). Higher education (OR 1.31, 1.09-1.56), high income (OR 1.41, 1.01-1.97) and depression (OR 2.36, 1.51-3.70) were associated with increased presence of vasomotor symptoms. Smoking and obesity were associated with both presence (OR 1.63, 1.30-2.04 and 1.35, 1.02-1.78) and severity (OR 1.56, 1.07-2.27 and 1.42, 1.11-1.83) of vasomotor symptoms.

conclusionSocio-demographic and behavioural factors, including ethnicity, education, income, smoking, obesity and depression, influence menopausal symptoms, highlighting the need for personalised care.

trial registrationPROSPERO number: CRD42023459154.

Indexed as

Hot FlashesMenopauseFemaleHumansMiddle AgedRisk FactorsSeverity of Illness IndexVaginal DiseasesVasomotor Systemdisparitiesmenopausemeta‐analysissymptomssystematic review

Identifiers

PMID42087841
PMCPMC13571893

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.