Rhianna Davies

and 11 more

Objective: To investigate the factors associated with non-vasomotor menopause symptoms among women in the UK, focusing on the perceived importance of specific symptoms and their association with demographic and treatment-related factors. Design: A cross-sectional online survey. Setting: UK-wide national survey conducted from February to March 2023. Population or Sample: A total of 7,285 women who completed the survey. Methods: Participants provided anonymised demographic data and rated the importance of five menopause symptoms (‘low mood’, ‘brain fog’, ‘aches and pains’, ‘feeling tired’, and ‘weight gain’) using a 10-point Likert scale. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to assess the association between symptom importance scores and specific characteristics, including age, HRT treatment, ethnicity, and geographical location. Main Outcome Measures: Importance scores of menopause symptoms stratified by demographic and treatment factors. Results: Significant differences were identified via univariable and multivariable linear regression analysis in perceived symptom importance amongst women of different ages, geographical locations, ethnic backgrounds, and current treatment regimes. The most frequently reported single important symptom amongst all women was brain fog. Conclusions: The survey highlights the increasing importance placed on psychological symptoms during menopause, underscoring the need for targeted treatments addressing patient concerns beyond vasomotor symptoms. Treatment-related and demographic factors influence symptom prioritisation, advocating for personalised care approaches to manage menopause.