Revisiting the duration of vasomotor symptoms of menopause: a meta-analysis
Open accessAbstract
Background Treatment decisions about menopause are predicated on a transient duration of vasomotor symptoms. However, evidence supporting a specific duration is weak.Objective To estimate the natural progression of vasomotor symptoms during the menopause transition by systematically compiling available evidence using meta-analytic techniques.Data sources We searched MEDLINE, hand searched secondary references in relevant studies, book chapters, and review papers, and contacted investigators about relevant published research.Review methods English language, population-based studies reporting vasomotor symptom prevalence among women in menopausal transition in time intervals based on years to or from final menstrual period were included. Two reviewers independently assessed eligibility and quality of studies and extracted data for vasomotor symptom prevalence.Results The analyses included 10 studies (2 longitudinal, 8 cross sectional) with 35,445 participants. The percentage of women experiencing symptoms increased sharply in the 2 years before final menstrual period, peaked 1 year after final menstrual period, and did not return to premenopausal levels until about 8 years after final menstrual period. Nearly 50% of all women reported vasomotor symptoms 4 years after final menstrual period, and 10% of all women reported symptoms as far as 12 years after final menstrual period. When data were examined according to symptom severity ('any' vs. 'bothersome'), bothersome symptoms peaked about 1 year earlier and declined more rapidly than symptoms of any severity level.Conclusions Our findings suggest a median symptom duration of about 4 years among symptomatic women. A longer symptom duration may affect treatment decisions and clinical guidelines. Further prospective, longitudinal studies of menopausal symptoms should be conducted to confirm these results.
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Hot flashes occur in 60 to 80 % of women during the menopausal transition and persist for 4 to 5 years on average.
“it is generally believed that hot flashes occur in 60 to 80 % of women during the menopausal transition [102] and persist for 4 to 5 years on average [103,104].”
From Non-Pharmacological Treatment of Insomnia (2012) · cites this paper as [103]
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- Authors
- Politi, M. C., Schleinitz, M. D., & Col, N. F.
- Affiliations
- Brown University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Politi, Mary C.
- Venue
- Journal of General Internal Medicine
- Published
- 2008-06-03
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1507-1513
- ISSN
- 0884-8734 (ISSN-L)
- 1525-1497
- PMC
- PMC2518020
- OpenAlex
- W1970386643
- Cited by
- 244
- References
- 56
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 19
- FWCI
- 1.24
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Journal of General Internal Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Wake Forest University
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2r01hs013329-04a1, R01HS013329)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Sexual function and dysfunction studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Reproductive Health and Contraception
- Keywords
- vasomotor symptoms, menopause, perimenopause, symptom duration, hot flashes, final menstrual period, symptom prevalence
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Menopause, Middle Aged, Time Factors, Hot Flashes
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