Neonatology Surgery and Perinatal Medicine · Sep 29, 2026

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF THE MENOPAUSAL TRANSITION AND THEIR IMPACT ON WOMEN’S QUALITY OF LIFE: RESULTS OF A QUESTIONNAIRE-BASED STUDY

By Andriiets A, Makarchuk OM, Sokhatska A

Menopause constitutes a physiological stage characterized by hormonally induced changes manifesting as vasomotor, psychoemotional, cognitive, somatic, and urogenital symptoms. Increasing female life expectancy renders the menopausal transition highly relevant, given that a substantial proportion of life is spent in the postmenopausal period, during which clinical manifestations can significantly impair quality of life. Despite this demographic shift, the prevalence and severity of these symptoms, and the therapeutic approaches for their management, remain insufficiently investigated. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence, spectrum, and severity of menopausal symptoms, the characteristics of menstrual status, and to assess treatment approaches and their effectiveness based anonymous questionnaire data. Materials and methods. A descriptive cohort study was conducted using an anonymous questionnaire administered to 105 women aged 45 years or older. The instrument assessed age, menstrual status, the presence and severity of menopausal symptoms (vasomotor, psychoemotional, cognitive, somatic, and urogenital), alongside healthcare-seeking behavior, treatment utilization, and perceived therapeutic effectiveness. Statistical analysis relied on descriptive statistics, presenting data as absolute values and percentages. Research procedures complied with the ethical principles for medical research involving human participants established by the Declaration of Helsinki (1964–2013), the International Council for Harmonisation Good Clinical Practice (ICH GCP, 1996), Council Directive 86/609/EEC of November 24, 1986, and Order No. 690 of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine dated September 23, 2009. The study protocol was approved by the Biomedical Ethics Committee of Bukovinian State Medical University (Protocol No. 7, dated April 16, 2026). The research was executed as part of the research project of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Bukovinian State Medical University entitled "Reproductive Health of Women and Girls Under Current Conditions: Changes Associated with Obstetric and Gynecological Pathology, and Approaches to Its Preservation and Restoration" (State Registration No. 0126U003200; implementation period: 2026 - 2030). Results and discussion. The absence of menstruation over the preceding 12 months was reported by 46.7% of participants, whereas 15.2% experienced irregular cycles, and 38.1% maintained regular menstruation. The most prevalent clinical manifestations comprised arthralgia and myalgia (87.6%), fatigue (92.4%), low mood (91.4%), irritability (83.8%), memory impairment (80.0%), and anxiety (77.1%). Vasomotor symptoms, primarily hot flashes, affected 51.4% of the cohort, while night sweats were reported by 46.7%. Urogenital manifestations included vaginal dryness (42.9%) and episodes of urinary incontinence (41.9%). Metabolic changes presented as weight gain in 74.3% of women and increased waist circumference in 62.9%. Healthcare-seeking behavior remained low (41.9%) alongside limited treatment utilization, although hormone therapy demonstrated superior effectiveness (83,3%) relative to non-hormonal modalities. Conclusions. The menopausal transition involves a high burden of diverse symptoms that significantly affect women’s quality of life. These findings highlight suboptimal healthcare engagement and the underutilization of effective therapeutic strategies, necessitating proactive symptom identification, heightened awareness, and the implementation individualized patient management protocols.

doi.org/10.24061/2413-4260.xvi.3.61.2026.8Open accessPopulations