EClinicalMedicineNov 9, 2026, 19:39 GMT

Menopause symptoms varied widely across 13 countries

A cross-sectional survey of 5,228 cisgender and transgender women, with a median age of 55, linked other health conditions to worse symptoms.

Paper by Gayathri Delanerolle, Vindya Pathiraja, George Uchenna Eleje, +174Peter Phiri · University of Birmingham · University of Southampton

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Populations

Studied:: Cross-sectional study of 5,228 cisgender and transgender women (Multicenter)
What changed:: Symptom burden varied substantially across countries: the UK and Rwanda had the highest levels, while other countries showed lower burden
The catch:: Other health conditions and disability could account for symptom differences across countries

Editor of record: Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News

Paper

The 5,228 cisgender and transgender women transitioning to menopause, in menopause or past menopause had a median age of 55. They joined a cross-sectional observational study across 13 countries through clinical and community settings, including digital recruitment. Conducted from January 2024 to September 2025, the study used electronic questionnaires to assess mental and physical symptoms, sleep, pain, disability and quality of life.

Symptom burden varied across countries and menopausal stages. Participants in the UK and Rwanda reported some of the highest burdens across several mental and physical health measures. Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore generally had lower burdens. Long-term conditions and disability were linked to worse outcomes. An exploratory analysis identified burnout as the most central symptom connecting mental and physical symptoms.

Why it matters

Menopause care involves physical and mental health across midlife and later years. The authors called for coordinated care across specialties that addresses other health conditions and social inequalities, rather than focusing narrowly on individual symptoms.

Caveats

The cross-sectional questionnaires measured broader midlife health, not menopause-specific symptoms alone; other conditions could help account for symptom differences. Recruitment through clinical, community and digital routes means the country patterns may not represent everyone experiencing menopause.