The Systematic Review on Menopausal Symptoms in Indian Women: A Crucial Area of Study

Menopause is a natural process that signifies the end of a woman’s reproductive phase. A variety of symptoms accompany it, and the prevalence of these symptoms varies depending on topographical, socio-cultural, and economic factors affecting women’s lives. In India, a large portion of the population is reaching menopausal age due to increasing life expectancy. Therefore, the objective is to conduct a systematic review of studies documenting the prevalence of menopausal symptoms in Indian women. A comprehensive systematic review was conducted using different databases to extract studies containing information on the prevalence of menopausal symptoms in Indian women. The articles searched from 2013–2024 were included in this study. Studies included in this review varied in sample size from 100 to 1034 participants, with a total of 3,367 women providing data across the 11 independent studies. The ages of the included participants ranged from 40 to 85 years. The most reported menopausal symptoms among the studies were physical (54.43%), psychological factors (50.60%), sleep problems (45.32%), and hot flushes (44.01%). The prevalence of sleep-related discomfort is less explored in India, and in studies where it has been explored, it is significant. There is a need for effective management and large-scale studies using reliable measures.