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Background Female sex and menopausal onset have been suggested as risk factors for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), highlighting the potential relevance of later hormonal transitions, such as menopause. However, the relationship between menopause and ME/CFS symptoms remains poorly understood. Objective This scoping review aimed to provide an overview of existing literature examining the relationship between ME/CFS and menopause. Data sources Five databases (CINAHL ultimate, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Scopus, CENTRAL) were searched for studies including menopause and ME/CFS. Study selection Searches yielded 559 articles. Three articles were eligible for the current review, all of which were observational studies. Study appraisal and methods Data extracted from studies included author(s), publication year, study aims and design, participant information, methodology, outcome measure, and results, with information synthesised narratively. Results Differences in menopausal status in CFS versus non-CFS groups were inconsistent. However, a pattern emerged for other gynaecological symptoms, with excessive pain and bleeding, endometriosis diagnosis and related surgeries more prevalent in CFS groups. While no statistical analysis was performed, participants self-reported worsening ME/CFS symptoms from menopause. Conclusions Although ME/CFS appears to increase menopause-related symptoms and compromises quality of life, the low number of studies limit conclusions.
Humphreys et al. (Wed,) studied this question.