Prevalence of menopausal symptoms in Asian midlife women: a systematic review

During the menopausal period, sexual dysfunction is associated with the development or worsening of psychological conditions, causing deterioration in women’s mental health and quality of life. This systematic review aims to investigate the effects of different exercise programs on sexual function and quality of sexual life related to menopausal symptoms. With this purpose, a systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Plus. A total of 1787 articles were identified in the initial search and 11 prospective studies (including 8 randomized controlled trials) were finally included. The most commonly recommended training programs are based on exercising pelvic floor muscles, as they seem to have the largest impact on sexual function. Mind–body disciplines also helped in managing menopausal symptoms. However, as far as the most traditional programs were concerned, aerobic exercises showed inconsistent results and resistance training did not seem to convey any benefits. Although positive effects have been found, evidence supporting physical exercise as a strategy to improve sexual function and quality of sexual life related to menopausal symptoms is limited, and further studies on this topic are needed.

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PREVALENCE AND SEVERITY OF MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS IN A POPULATION-BASED SAMPLE OF MIDLIFE WOMEN

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igy023.2635 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (suppl_1) ◽

pp. 711-711

Author(s):

S Mulhall ◽

K Anstey

Keyword(s):

Population Based ◽

Menopausal Symptoms ◽

Midlife Women

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Experiences of menopause, self-management strategies for menopausal symptoms and perceptions of health care among immigrant women: a systematic review

Climacteric ◽

10.1080/13697137.2017.1421922 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 101-110 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

K. A. Stanzel ◽

K. Hammarberg ◽

J. Fisher

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Health Care ◽

Immigrant Women ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Menopausal Symptoms ◽

Self Management

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Influence of Work on Andropause and Menopause: A Systematic Review

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph181910074 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (19) ◽

pp. 10074

Author(s):

Margherita Martelli ◽

Laura Zingaretti ◽

Gianmaria Salvio ◽

Massimo Bracci ◽

Lory Santarelli

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Pesticide Exposure ◽

Job Strain ◽

Menopausal Symptoms ◽

Hormonal Changes ◽

Related Factors ◽

Age At Menopause ◽

Work Related ◽

As Stress ◽

Meta Analyses

Aging is associated with gender-specific hormonal changes that progressively lead to gonadal insufficiency, a condition which characterizes a minority of men and all women. Work-related factors, such as stress and pollutant exposure, affect gonadal function and can interfere with reproduction in both genders. A systematic review of the PubMed, SCOPUS and EMBASE databases was conducted, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement to investigate the effect of occupational factors on andropause and menopause. A total of 26 studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria: 9 studies evaluated the effects of work on andropause symptoms, 8 studies examined its effects on age at menopause onset, and 9 studies addressed its effects on menopausal symptoms. Work-related factors, such as psychological stress, physical effort, and sleep disorders, showed a significant correlation with andropause manifestations, whereas age at menopause and severity of menopausal symptoms were both influenced by factors such as pesticide exposure, high job strain, and repetitive work. Since work accompanies men and women for most of their lives, it is essential to identify and prevent the risk factors that may affect reproductive health.

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Evaluating the Effects of Symptom Monitoring on Menopausal Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Frontiers in Global Women's Health ◽

10.3389/fgwh.2021.757706 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

Author(s):

Robin Andrews ◽

Gabrielle Hale ◽

Bev John ◽

Deborah Lancastle

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Decision Making ◽

Medical Decision Making ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Menopausal Symptoms ◽

Medical Decision ◽

Health Awareness ◽

Symptom Monitoring ◽

Hot Flush ◽

Doctor Communication

Evidence suggests that monitoring and appraising symptoms can result in increased engagement in medical help-seeking, improved patient-doctor communication, and reductions in symptom prevalence and severity. To date, no systematic reviews have investigated whether symptom monitoring could be a useful intervention for menopausal women. This review explored whether symptom monitoring could improve menopausal symptoms and facilitate health-related behaviours. Results suggested that symptom monitoring was related to improvements in menopausal symptoms, patient-doctor communication and medical decision-making, heightened health awareness, and stronger engagement in setting treatment goals. Meta-analyses indicated large effects for the prolonged use of symptom diaries on hot flush frequencies. Between April 2019 and April 2021, PsychInfo, EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane, ProQuest, PsychArticles, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched. Eighteen studies met the eligibility criteria and contributed data from 1,718 participants. Included studies quantitatively or qualitatively measured the impact of symptom monitoring on menopausal populations and symptoms. Research was narratively synthesised using thematic methods, 3 studies were examined via meta-analysis. Key themes suggest that symptom monitoring is related to improvements in menopausal symptoms, improved patient-doctor communication and medical decision-making, increased health awareness, and stronger engagement in goal-setting behaviours. Meta-analysis results indicated large effects for the prolonged use of symptom diaries on hot flush frequency: 0.73 [0.57, 0.90]. This review is limited due to the low number of studies eligible for inclusion, many of which lacked methodological quality. These results indicate that symptom monitoring has potential as an effective health intervention for women with menopausal symptoms. This intervention may be beneficial within healthcare settings, in order to improve patient-doctor relations and adherence to treatment regimes. However, findings are preliminary and quality assessments suggest high risk of bias. Thus, further research is needed to support these promising outcomes.Systematic Review Registration Number:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?, PROSPERO, identifier: CRD42019146270.

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