Prevalence and predictors of complementary and alternative medicine/non-pharmacological interventions use for menopausal symptoms within the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening.

Researchers surveyed nearly 90,000 postmenopausal women in the UK to understand how many were using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) or non-pharmacological approaches to manage menopause symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and mood changes. This large study was part of the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening and included women aged 50-74 years.

The study found that one in four women (25%) reported using at least one form of CAM or non-drug approach for menopause relief. The most popular choices were herbal therapies (44%), vitamins (43%), lifestyle changes like diet and exercise (32%), and plant-based estrogens from foods (22%). Acupuncture was grouped with aromatherapy and reflexology in the study, though specific usage rates for acupuncture alone weren't reported separately.

Interestingly, older women were less likely to use herbal remedies, vitamins, and plant estrogens, but acupuncture and similar therapies showed consistent use across all age groups. Women with higher education levels, those who had previously used hormone therapy, and those who felt more hopeful about their future were more likely to try these alternative approaches.

This research suggests that many menopausal women are seeking options beyond conventional hormone therapy, particularly following negative media coverage about hormone treatments. For women considering acupuncture for menopause symptoms, this widespread use reflects growing interest in integrative approaches to managing this natural life transition. If you're interested in trying acupuncture for menopause symptoms, seek a qualified, licensed practitioner with experience in women's health.

This cross-sectional analysis from the UKCTOCS trial examined 88,430 postmenopausal women (65% response rate) aged 50-74 years who completed follow-up questionnaires between 2006-2009. Overall, 25.1% (n=22,206) reported ever-use of CAM/NPI for menopausal symptom management. Herbal therapies showed highest utilization (43.8%), followed by vitamins (42.6%), lifestyle modifications (32.1%), and phytoestrogens (21.6%). Acupuncture was assessed within a combined category with aromatherapy and reflexology, showing consistent use across age groups unlike herbal therapies and phytoestrogens which declined with increasing age. Multivariate analysis identified positive predictors including higher education, Black ethnicity, previous MHT use, and oral contraceptive history. Lower dispositional hope correlated with reduced CAM/NPI utilization. This large-scale epidemiological study demonstrates substantial CAM/NPI adoption among postmenopausal UK women, particularly those with higher health literacy and previous conventional therapy exposure. Clinicians should proactively discuss CAM/NPI use during menopause consultations to ensure comprehensive, integrated care approaches.