PERCEIVE: A retrospective, qualitative interview-based study of the impact of vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause on the lives of individuals who are not suitable candidates for hormone therapy.

Researchers interviewed 32 women (average age 57) who couldn't use hormone therapy for menopause symptoms to understand how hot flashes and night sweats affected their lives. All participants experienced hot flashes, with most also reporting heavy sweating and night sweats. These symptoms severely disrupted their daily lives—94% had difficulty sleeping, 75% felt exhausted from interrupted sleep, and 75% struggled with work performance. Over half experienced emotional difficulties and needed to frequently change clothes due to sweating.

When it came to treatment, a quarter had never received any help for their symptoms. Those who did try treatments explored various options: about half tried natural remedies, nearly one-third had previously used hormone therapy (before it became unsuitable), 9% tried acupuncture, and small numbers tried over-the-counter products, antidepressants, or other approaches. Interestingly, while hormone therapy received the highest satisfaction ratings before participants had to stop it, natural remedies and antidepressants left women feeling dissatisfied. Women reported several barriers to finding relief, including side effects, treatments not working, high costs, limited access to care, and lack of support from their healthcare providers.

The study highlights that only 9% of these women tried acupuncture for menopausal symptoms, suggesting it remains an underutilized option despite many women seeking alternatives to hormones. For women unable to use hormone therapy who are struggling with hot flashes and sleep disruption, acupuncture may offer a drug-free treatment worth exploring. If you're considering acupuncture for menopausal symptoms, seek a licensed acupuncturist with experience treating menopause-related conditions.

This qualitative study interviewed 32 participants (mean age 57 years) exiting the DAYLIGHT phase 3b trial (NCT05033886) who had moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms but contraindications to or aversion to hormone therapy. All participants reported hot flashes, with perspiration (81%) and night sweats (44%) also common. Vasomotor symptoms significantly impacted quality of life: 94% experienced sleep difficulty, 75% reported work impairment and tiredness from sleep interruptions, 56% noted emotional impacts, and 53% had poor sleep quality. Treatment history revealed 53% tried natural remedies, 31% hormone therapy (prior to contraindications), 9% acupuncture, 9% over-the-counter agents, and 6% antidepressants. Hormone therapy showed highest satisfaction (mean 3.7/5), while natural remedies and antidepressants rated poorly (2.0/5 each). Barriers included treatment ineffectiveness, cost, limited access, and inadequate provider support. Clinical takeaway: Among women contraindicated for hormone therapy, vasomotor symptoms cause substantial functional impairment, particularly sleep disruption, with existing nonhormonal treatments showing low satisfaction rates, indicating significant unmet treatment needs in this population.