Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026
Herbs-Partitioned Moxibustion on the Navel in a Rat Model of Primary Dysmenorrhea with Cold Coagulation and Blood Stasis
Published on: October 4, 2024
Complementary and alternative medicine for menopause: a qualitative analysis of women's decision making
Laura E Hill-Sakurai1, Jessica Muller, David H Thom
1Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA. hillsakl@fcm.ucsf.edu
Background:
While almost half of women use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) during their menopause, almost no literature explores why women choose CAM for menopausal symptoms. Clinician-patient conversations about CAM can be unsatisfactory, and exploration of women's choices may benefit communication.
Objective:
The objective of this study was to describe women's choices to use CAM for menopausal health issues.
Design:
This is a qualitative study utilizing semi-structured interviews.
Participants:
Convenience sample of 44 menopausal women ages 45 to 60 recruited in two primary care clinics. Both users and non-users of CAM were included.
Approach:
Transcripts of semi-structured interviews were analyzed for themes that were refined through comparison of labeled text.
Main Results:
Four themes emerged in decisions to use CAM: (1) valuing CAM as "natural", although the meaning of "natural" varied greatly, (2) perceiving menopause as marking a change in life stage, (3) seeking information about menopause generated from personal intuition and other women's experiences, and (4) describing experiences before menopause of using CAM and allopathic medication in patterns similar to current use (patterned responses).
Conclusion:
Women's decisions about using CAM during menopause can be understood through their perspectives on menopause and overall health. Increased clinician awareness of these themes may promote supportive discussions about CAM during counseling for menopause.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Menopause
01:22Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle
At puberty, GnRH begins a pulsatile release pattern, which triggers the anterior pituitary gland to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The frequency and amplitude of GnRH pulses vary across the menstrual cycle, with faster pulses favoring LH release and slower pulses favoring FSH release.
01:14Decision Making: Traditional Method
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is decided based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to this claim is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses, out of which a null hypothesis would be a...