Fibromyalgia and menopause: Friends with benefits?
Arriana Gkouvi1, Katerina-Maria Kontouli2, Eleni C Pardali1
1Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Larissa University Hospital, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, Larissa, Greece.
Maturitas
|March 5, 2026
Summary
Fibromyalgia symptoms worsen during menopause, impacting quality of life. Higher body mass index (BMI) is linked to increased fibromyalgia and menopause symptom severity.
Area of Science:
- Women's Health
- Rheumatology
- Menopause Studies
Background:
- Fibromyalgia and menopause share overlapping symptoms like pain and fatigue.
- Menopausal transition can exacerbate fibromyalgia symptoms, increasing patient burden.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between fibromyalgia and menopause.
- To identify predictors of increased fibromyalgia impact and menopause symptom severity.
Main Methods:
- 169 fibromyalgia patients completed the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR) and Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS).
- Sociodemographic data, medication use, and menopausal status were recorded.
- Linear regression analyses identified predictors of symptom severity.
Main Results:
- Worse fibromyalgia (higher FIQR scores) predicted more severe menopause symptoms (β=0.38, p<0.001).
- Higher BMI correlated with greater menopause symptom severity (β=0.84, p=0.001) and fibromyalgia impact (β=1.1, p<0.001).
- Fibromyalgia preceded menopause in 51% of patients and occurred concurrently in 21.9%.
Conclusions:
- Fibromyalgia and menopause symptoms significantly overlap, worsening the overall symptom burden.
- Higher BMI is associated with greater disease impact and poorer quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia during menopause.
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