AbstractBackground: With increasing life expectancy, the global population of postmenopausal women is projected to reach 1.1 billion by 2025. The physiological and pathological changes associated with menopause significantly impact women’s quality of life, leading to various physical and mental health challenges.
Objective: This narrative review aims to synthesize existing literature on menopausal symptoms, their treatments, and alternative complementary therapies. It also seeks to identify knowledge gaps to inform future research directions.
Methods: A literature review was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, ScienceDirect, and MEDLINE, covering the period from September 2021 to December 2021. A total of 18 research articles, supplemented by 3 related articles and 2 additional sources, were included.
Results: The findings focus on menopausal symptoms, treatments, and alternative therapies, categorized into the following themes: Menopausal symptoms and their association with age. Prevalence and risk factors of menopausal symptoms, Early menopause, Effectiveness of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) and Alternative and complementary therapies, including yoga, exercise, and hypnosis.
Conclusion: Menopause remains underrecognized and inadequately addressed due to societal taboos. Innovative methodological and theoretical approaches are essential to advance research on menopausal health and alternative complementary therapies. These interventions could provide effective management strategies, reducing complications among MHT users and improving overall well-being.