Optimizing quality of life in perimenopause: lessons from the East

As global life expectancy improves, women are expected to spend more than one-third of their lives in the status of menopause. In China, many women suffer from menopausal symptoms during this period, which impacts their well-being and quality of life. However, most Chinese women simply endure menopausal symptoms. Since the Chinese Menopause Society was founded in 1999, several versions of the guidelines for menopause management and menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) have been published; international cooperation has strengthened; menopause-related activities have been advocated; and popular knowledge of menopause and MHT has gradually improved. Medical workers, menopausal women, and the general population have come to realize that MHT is the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms and could improve quality of life. In addition to MHT, non-hormone management (traditional Chinese medicine, lifestyle changes, social/psychological interventions, dietary management, etc.) of menopausal symptoms is an important consideration, especially in situations when MHT is contra-indicated. This review summarizes the literature and research studies to help health care acknowledge the population and prevent underuse of effective therapies or use of inappropriate or ineffective therapies, which, in turn, is expected to improve public health management and women's quality of life. More efforts should be made to better disseminate the knowledge on perimenopausal management among Chinese women.