Perimenopausal symptom burden: implications for health, work and earlier clinical management
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Perimenopausal women often experience symptoms impairing quality of life, yet they receive limited clinical attention. This study aimed to assess symptom burden, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and work-related outcomes across reproductive aging stages. METHOD: Secondary analysis included 1478 women aged 40-54 years from 12 Latin American countries, classified by age and menstrual status into four groups: age 40-44 years with regular cycles (reference), age 45-49 years with regular cycles, age 45-49 years with irregular cycles (perimenopause) and age 50-54 years with absent menses (early postmenopause). Symptoms, HRQoL, work-related outcomes and job satisfaction were assessed using validated instruments Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: < 0.001). Compared with the reference group, women with irregular cycles and those with absent menses had higher odds of severe symptoms (odds ratio [OR] 2.97 and 3.71), lower HRQoL (OR 1.62 and 1.97) and lower job satisfaction (OR 2.01 and 3.07), respectively. Menopausal stage was not independently associated with work-related quality of life. CONCLUSION: Symptom burden and its impact on health and job satisfaction emerge before menopause and may inform earlier, stage-specific clinical guidance.
Source: Climacteric
Authors: Doris Rodríguez-Vidal, Juan E. Blümel, Peter Chedraui, María S. Vallejo, Lucia Costa-Paiva, Hugo Gutiérrez-Crespo, Maribel Dextre, Karen Díaz, Alejandra Elizalde-Cremonte, Santiago Elizalde-Cremonte, Carlos Escalante-Gómez, María T. Espinoza, Ircania García, Gustavo Gómez-Tabares, Juan Matzumura-Kasano, Paolo Meza, Álvaro Monterrosa-Castro, Mónica Ñañez, Marcela López, Eliana Ojeda, Claudia Rey, Ana Lucia Ribeiro Valadares, Marcio A. H. Rodrigues, Javier Saavedra, Carlos Salinas, Lida Sosa, Konstantinos Tserotas, Margot Acuña-San Martín, Sócrates Aedo, Marcela S. Aguirre, Eugenio Arteaga, Félix Ayala, Ascanio Bencosme, Andrés Calle
Institutions: Universidad de Buenos Aires, Hospital de Clínicas "José de San Martín", University of Chile, Universidad Espíritu Santo, Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), National University of San Marcos, National University of the Northeast, Universidad de Costa Rica, Universidad del Valle, Universidad del Valle, Universidad del Valle, Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia, University of Cartagena, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Clínica Alemana, Universidad Andina del Cusco, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Universidad Mayor de San Simón, IPS Central, Hospiten Group, Universidad de La Frontera, Finis Terrae University, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, Universidad Indoamérica
Language: English
Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7212226158