Factors Associated With Non-Vasomotor Menopause Symptoms Experienced by 7285 Women: A UK-Wide National Survey

Rhianna Davies; Ashwin Goyal; Zachary Nash; Sarah Hillman; Melanie Davies; Nick Panay; Jane Daniels; Tim Hillard; Bonnie Grant; Paula Briggs; Lynne Robinson; Haitham Hamoda; Channa N. Jayasena

doi:10.1111/1471-0528.18353

Factors Associated With Non-Vasomotor Menopause Symptoms Experienced by 7285 Women: A UK-Wide National Survey

Rhianna Davies
, Ashwin Goyal
, Zachary Nash
, Sarah Hillman
, Melanie Davies
, Nick Panay
, Jane Daniels
, Tim Hillard
, Bonnie Grant
, Paula Briggs
, Lynne Robinson
, Haitham Hamoda
, Channa N. Jayasena^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Applied Health Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

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 7285 women 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. The full questionnaire is provided in Supporting Information. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to assess the association between symptom importance scores and specific characteristics, including age, HRT and non-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 in perceived symptom importance across age groups, geographic locations, ethnic backgrounds, and treatment status. Brain fog was the most frequently prioritised symptom overall. Several moderate-strength associations were observed: for example, HRT use was associated with higher importance ratings for brain fog, tiredness, low mood, and aches and pains. Ethnic minority women (Asian and Black) also gave higher importance ratings to brain fog.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the prominence of cognitive and psychological symptoms during menopause and the influence of demographic and treatment variables on symptom prioritisation. These results support the need for personalised and inclusive menopause care that addresses a wider range of symptom concerns beyond vasomotor issues. These findings have implications for public health policy and financial investment.

Original language	English
Journal	BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Early online date	1 Sept 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.18353
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 1 Sept 2025

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

menopause
national survey
physical symptoms
psychological symptoms
symptom prioritisation

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Cite this

Davies, R., Goyal, A., Nash, Z., Hillman, S., Davies, M., Panay, N., Daniels, J., Hillard, T., Grant, B., Briggs, P., Robinson, L., Hamoda, H., & Jayasena, C. N. (2025). Factors Associated With Non-Vasomotor Menopause Symptoms Experienced by 7285 Women: A UK-Wide National Survey. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.18353

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title = "Factors Associated With Non-Vasomotor Menopause Symptoms Experienced by 7285 Women: A UK-Wide National Survey",

abstract = "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 7285 women 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. The full questionnaire is provided in Supporting Information. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to assess the association between symptom importance scores and specific characteristics, including age, HRT and non-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 in perceived symptom importance across age groups, geographic locations, ethnic backgrounds, and treatment status. Brain fog was the most frequently prioritised symptom overall. Several moderate-strength associations were observed: for example, HRT use was associated with higher importance ratings for brain fog, tiredness, low mood, and aches and pains. Ethnic minority women (Asian and Black) also gave higher importance ratings to brain fog.CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the prominence of cognitive and psychological symptoms during menopause and the influence of demographic and treatment variables on symptom prioritisation. These results support the need for personalised and inclusive menopause care that addresses a wider range of symptom concerns beyond vasomotor issues. These findings have implications for public health policy and financial investment.",

keywords = "menopause, national survey, physical symptoms, psychological symptoms, symptom prioritisation",

author = "Rhianna Davies and Ashwin Goyal and Zachary Nash and Sarah Hillman and Melanie Davies and Nick Panay and Jane Daniels and Tim Hillard and Bonnie Grant and Paula Briggs and Lynne Robinson and Haitham Hamoda and Jayasena, \{Channa N.\}",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2025 The Author(s). BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology published by John Wiley \& Sons Ltd.",

year = "2025",

month = sep,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1111/1471-0528.18353",

language = "English",

journal = "BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics \& Gynaecology",

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T1 - Factors Associated With Non-Vasomotor Menopause Symptoms Experienced by 7285 Women

T2 - A UK-Wide National Survey

AU - Davies, Rhianna

AU - Goyal, Ashwin

AU - Nash, Zachary

AU - Hillman, Sarah

AU - Davies, Melanie

AU - Panay, Nick

AU - Daniels, Jane

AU - Hillard, Tim

AU - Grant, Bonnie

AU - Briggs, Paula

AU - Robinson, Lynne

AU - Hamoda, Haitham

AU - Jayasena, Channa N.

PY - 2025/9/1

Y1 - 2025/9/1

N2 - 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 7285 women 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. The full questionnaire is provided in Supporting Information. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to assess the association between symptom importance scores and specific characteristics, including age, HRT and non-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 in perceived symptom importance across age groups, geographic locations, ethnic backgrounds, and treatment status. Brain fog was the most frequently prioritised symptom overall. Several moderate-strength associations were observed: for example, HRT use was associated with higher importance ratings for brain fog, tiredness, low mood, and aches and pains. Ethnic minority women (Asian and Black) also gave higher importance ratings to brain fog.CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the prominence of cognitive and psychological symptoms during menopause and the influence of demographic and treatment variables on symptom prioritisation. These results support the need for personalised and inclusive menopause care that addresses a wider range of symptom concerns beyond vasomotor issues. These findings have implications for public health policy and financial investment.

AB - 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 7285 women 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. The full questionnaire is provided in Supporting Information. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to assess the association between symptom importance scores and specific characteristics, including age, HRT and non-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 in perceived symptom importance across age groups, geographic locations, ethnic backgrounds, and treatment status. Brain fog was the most frequently prioritised symptom overall. Several moderate-strength associations were observed: for example, HRT use was associated with higher importance ratings for brain fog, tiredness, low mood, and aches and pains. Ethnic minority women (Asian and Black) also gave higher importance ratings to brain fog.CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the prominence of cognitive and psychological symptoms during menopause and the influence of demographic and treatment variables on symptom prioritisation. These results support the need for personalised and inclusive menopause care that addresses a wider range of symptom concerns beyond vasomotor issues. These findings have implications for public health policy and financial investment.

KW - menopause

KW - national survey

KW - physical symptoms

KW - psychological symptoms

KW - symptom prioritisation

U2 - 10.1111/1471-0528.18353

DO - 10.1111/1471-0528.18353

M3 - Article

C2 - 40888199

SN - 1470-0328

JO - BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

JF - BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

ER -

Factors Associated With Non-Vasomotor Menopause Symptoms Experienced by 7285 Women: A UK-Wide National Survey

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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Cite this