Dr Alison Maunder1, Dr Amelia Mardon2, Ms Vibhuti Rao1, Ms Sophia Torkel3, Ms Joelle Metri1, Ms Jing Liu1, Dr Guoyan Yang1, Ms Nora Giese1, A/Prof Evangeline Mantzioris4, Ms NK Abdul Jafar3, Dr GE Rodrigues de Souza5, Ms Ieman Al-Kanini6, Ms Lorena Romero7, Prof Nick Panay8, Dr Hugo Pedder8, A/Prof Carolyn Ee1
1NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, Australia, 2IIMPACT in Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia, 3Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, Monash University, Clayton, Australia, 4Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia, 5João Pessoa University Center (UNIPÊ), Faculty of Medicine, Paraiba, Brazil, 6Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, Australia, 7Ian Potter Library, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, 8Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital, London and Imperial College , London, United Kingdom, 9Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
Biography:
Alison is a postdoctoral research fellow at NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, specialising in women’s health and complementary medicine. She holds a PhD, Master of Philosophy, Master of Medicine in Reproductive Health and Human Genetics and a Master of Herbal Medicine, all from the University of Sydney. A qualified naturopath with a special interest in fertility and reproductive health, Alison brings both academic rigor and clinical expertise to her research. Her work contributes to the development of evidence-based clinical guidelines integrating complementary therapies into women's healthcare.
Aims:
The menopause transition can significantly affect women’s physical and mental health and increases chronic disease risk. This review assessed the benefits and risks of complementary therapies used by peri- and post-menopausal women.
Methods:
A systematic search of six databases (January 2022-December 2024) identified randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews on complementary therapies for menopausal symptoms.
Results:
Of 158 included studies, 86 different interventions were identified. Moderate-certainty evidence supports electro-acupuncture for vasomotor symptoms (VMS); Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for overall menopausal symptoms, sleep and blood pressure; acupuncture plus CHM for sleep; black cohosh for VMS; calcium and vitamin D for fracture reduction; and soy-derived isoflavones for overall menopausal symptoms. Many additional therapies showed promise but lacked sufficient evidence for recommendation.
Conclusions:
While a large number of studies were identified, overall methodological quality was low. Most complementary therapies appeared safe, yet women should be informed that regulation varies and decisions should be guided by credible evidence. Healthcare practitioners should routinely enquire about concurrent complementary and conventional therapy use and consider patient values and preferences. Further high-quality research is needed to strengthen the evidence base. These findings inform International Menopause Society recommendations for an integrated, evidence-informed approach to menopause care.