Menopause with TBI

What is the study about?

This study developed and tested a new scale of menopause symptoms in midlife women with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

What is the goal of the study?

The goal was to develop and test a new survey that measures how TBI affects the experience of menopause. This survey assesses symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal drying, depression, irritability, sleep problems, and fatigue. The scale can be used to examine how TBI-related symptoms affect the presence and severity of menopause symptoms.

How was the study conducted?

There were three parts to the study. First, women with TBI took part in focus group discussions to help researchers understand their experience of menopause. Based on focus group feedback, a new scale was created using items from two existing measures that have been used to examine menopause symptoms in women with post-polio syndrome and spinal cord injury. Finally, women with and without TBI completed the new scale through either a telephone interview or an online survey.

Who participated in the study?

This study included 221 women. Sixty-eight women with severe, moderate, or complicated-mild TBI were recruited from one of five TBI Model Systems: Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, TIRR Memorial Hermann, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Kessler Foundation, and New York University. 153 women without TBI were recruited from the community and research registries at the University of Michigan.

What did the study find?

The study found that the scale performed well for both women with and without TBI and was able to distinguish pre- and post-menopausal states. These results mean that the scale is useful to help understand symptom differences between women with and without TBI and before and after menopause starts.

How can people use the results?

This study is the first step to fill a gap in scales that can help us understand the experience of women with TBI who are going through menopause. Understanding how impairments related to TBI may change the experience of menopause symptoms will help develop strategies that women with TBI can use to manage symptoms.

Reference

Kalpakjian, C. Z., Hanks, R., Quint, E. H., Millis, S., Sander, A. M., Lequerica, A. H., Bushnik, T., Brunner, R., & Rapport, L. (2024). Assessing menopause symptoms in women with traumatic brain injury: the development and initial testing of a new scale. Women & Health, 64(1), 51–64.

Disclaimer

The contents of this quick review were developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90DPKT0009). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this quick review do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.