Lisa Taylor-Swanson

Objectives: Up to 82% of midlife women experience vasomotor and other symptoms during the menopausal transition and post menopause. Midlife women express interest in both conventional and integrative health approaches to symptom management. MENOGAP is an intervention with evidence-informed conventional and integrative health education content and acupuncture therapy delivered in a group medical visit, thus enabling clinicians to provide much-needed care to more women simultaneously. Women also learn self-care for stress management and wellness promotion. Limited research has been conducted on integrative group medical visits for women in perimenopause or postmenopause. This single-arm study was conducted in one site to ascertain the feasibility of recruiting and retaining participants, and the acceptability of study procedures, including data collection, and to assess participants’ outcomes. Methods: MENOGAP was co-delivered by a menopause-certified physician and an acupuncturist. The primary outcome was level of feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness, as measured by the Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM), Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM), and Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM). Secondary outcomes include changes in menopause-related symptoms, assessed with the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), menopause self-efficacy, self-care behaviors, and menopause knowledge. Descriptive statistics were used for demographics and feasibility scales. Paired t tests and McNemar tests were used to assess changes between measures at baseline and post-intervention. Qualitative data were coded using thematic content analysis. Results: No enrolled participants withdrew and 90.4% attended three or more sessions. Participants reported high rates of acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility. Statistically significant differences between pre-scores and post-scores were observed in MRS ( P =0.005), somato-vegetative subscale ( P =0.026), and psychological subscale ( P =0.050), with overall MRS scores decreasing by 0.294 points and the somato-vegetative subscale by 0.300 points, suggesting modest but potentially clinically relevant improvement; knowledge of the menopausal transition increased by 1.727 points (95% CI: 0.729-2.725, P =0.002), and menopause self-efficacy increased by 0.612 points (95% CI: 0.139-1.085, P =0.013). Themes from the qualitative data included positive experiences and enjoyment, empowerment and emotional support, time constraints and travel challenges, useful information delivery and materials, environment and comfort concerns, and follow-up and communication needs. Conclusions: MENOGAP was found to be feasible, acceptable, and effective from the perspectives of the enrolled participants. Physical and psychological symptoms improved significantly after the 4-week visits compared with baseline, and participants’ knowledge of menopause and its management also increased significantly. Qualitative results suggested that participants experienced improved symptom burden, benefits of social support, and increased menopause self-efficacy. Lessons learned from this pilot study will inform future research on efficacy and, if merited, subsequent implementation of MENOGAP.

Background:Case reports and clinical registry data are underused sources of real-world evidence in acupuncture and herbal medicine (AHM). This study explored researchers' reflections on conducting secondary analyses of acupuncture case reports and clinical registry data relating to pain.Methods:An anonymous qualitative survey was conducted with members of an international pragmatic research team (n=8) engaged in secondary analyses of AHM case reports and clinical registry data. Eight open-ended questions explored respondents’ experiences of collaboration, data complexity, evidence synthesis, and professional learning. Survey responses were analysed using descriptive thematic analysis, following established phases. Perplexity Pro was used in a limited, supportive role to assist with initial topic clustering and clarity checks, exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools in qualitative data analysis. All coding, interpretation, and theme development were researcher-led.Results:Five interrelated themes were identified: (1) ambitious and integrative aims; (2) working with messy, real-world data under time pressure; (3) the value and strain of international, multidisciplinary collaboration; (4) re-thinking evidence synthesis and the role of case reports; and (5) learning, growth, and future priorities for AHM. Respondents described the challenges of heterogeneous clinical data and the benefits of collaborative mixed-methods inquiry.Conclusion:This study highlights how reflective collaboration and iterative learning can support the collective analysis of complex, real-world data. Secondary analysis of case reports and clinical registry data, conducted through international and multidisciplinary collaboration, has the potential to contribute to evidence development in AHM. Continued attention to collaborative research frameworks, transparent reporting practices, and practitioner education will be important for strengthening the quality and impact of future practice-based AHM research.

Background: Menopause among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women occurs within complex historical, cultural, and healthcare contexts shaped by colonization, intergenerational knowledge disruption, and systemic inequities. The Waning Moon initiative brings together community members, clinicians, and researchers to explore midlife women’s health through a culturally grounded lens. This study examines how “recovery” is understood in relation to menopause among Native midlife women. Methods: A conversation circle involving Native midlife women who are members of a Community Advisory Board, clinicians, and researchers was held in a neighborhood coffee shop. The conversation was also accessible online via Zoom for team members who could not attend in person. A transcript was generated via Zoom, reviewed against the audio for accuracy, and corrected by a member of the research team. The verified transcript was analyzed using a secure, privacy-protected AI-assisted qualitative analysis program to identify themes. Themes were iteratively reviewed and refined by the full research team. Each author had an opportunity to add additional thoughts to the manuscript when reflecting on the topic and identified themes. Results: Eight interconnected themes were identified: (1) reclaiming identity, dignity, and wholeness; (2) colonization and loss of knowledge; (3) community as medicine; (4) medical invalidation by having one’s voice dismissed; (5) menopause as disruption and re-equilibration; (6) reconstructing knowledge across generations; (7) embodied empowerment: “you are medicine”; and (8) structural and environmental contexts of health. Participants described recovery not as symptom resolution alone, but as a multidimensional process involving the restoration of self-worth, the rebuilding of community, and the reconstruction of knowledge in the face of historical and ongoing disruption. Menopause was framed as both a destabilizing experience and a potential site for reclaiming balance, identity, and belonging. Conclusions: Recovery in the context of menopause among Native midlife women is a relational, culturally embedded process shaped by both loss and resilience. Findings highlight the importance of community-based, culturally responsive approaches that center lived experience, restore dignity, and support knowledge co-creation. Menopause may serve as a critical gateway for healing and reweaving connections among identity, community, and wellbeing.

Autistic women navigating the menopause transition face a constellation of challenges that remain critically understudied. This paper explores the intersection of autism-specific traits and menopausal symptoms, with a focus on interoceptive awareness (IA)—the ability to perceive internal bodily signals—which is frequently dysregulated in autistic individuals. Dysregulated IA may contribute to misinterpretation of menopausal symptoms, which in turn amplifies vasomotor severity, anxiety, depression, and distress during this life stage. Systemic barriers further complicate care access. Autistic women often encounter communication challenges with healthcare providers, limited provider knowledge of autism and menopause, and reduced social support. Addressing these gaps requires interdisciplinary approaches, including autism-informed health education, clinician training, IA-targeted interventions, and peer support networks. This paper calls for expanded research into the relationship between autism, interoception, and menopause to inform clinical practice and improve quality of life for autistic women during midlife transitions.

Introduction: Around 1.3 million US women enter menopause annually, with 75%–80% experiencing vasomotor symptoms (VMS) impacting mood, sleep, and cognition. VMS may contribute to chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of female mortality. Limited research suggests behavioural interventions, especially Asian mind–body exercises, may alleviate VMS and other menopausal symptoms. This scoping review explores the literature on the effects of Asian mind–body exercises on VMS and related symptoms in this population. Objective: This scoping review aims to map the current literature on the effects of Asian mind–body exercises on VMS and other menopausal symptoms in peri‐ and post‐menopausal women, addressing the existing knowledge gap and providing recommendations for healthcare interventions and future research. Methods: Guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Manual for Evidence Synthesis, we will utilise the framework by Arksey and O'Malley, adhere to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA‐ScR) reporting guidelines for transparency and reproducibility for scoping reviews and searches. We will use Covidence (Veritas Health Innovation) to screen and extract studies. Citation management and duplicate detection and removal will be accomplished with EndNote (Clarivate Analytics). Discussion and Research Spin‐Offs: This research will identify gaps, clarify definitions, and inform future research directions, providing healthcare professionals with evidence‐based insights to support the implementation of Asian mind–body exercises for women in peri‐ and post‐menopause. By doing so, it aims to advance culturally responsive and effective strategies that address the specific health needs of women during this life stage. Relevance to Clinical Practice: The findings from this scoping review may be used in clinical healthcare recommendations integrating traditional Asian mind–body exercise for vasomotor symptoms and other menopausal symptoms. No Patient or Public Contribution: This will be a scoping review study.