Literature review of instruments to assess health-related quality of life during and after menopause

Background and objectives: Menopause is a physiological event occurring in women at about the age of 50. It signals the end of the reproductive years and is associated with signs of estrogen deficiency having a considerable impact on women's health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The most common form of treatment is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Studies have shown negative events can arise from long-term use of HRT. The aim of this review is to determine if there are any HRQoL instruments that address the impact of menopausal symptoms including positive and negative effects of HRT. Methods: The following eight instruments were identified: Greene Climacteric Scale, Women's Health Questionnaire (WHQ), Qualifemme, Menopause-Specific QOL Questionnaire (MENQOL), Menopausal Symptoms List (MSL), Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), Menopausal Quality of Life Scale (MQOL), and the Utian Quality of Life Scale (UQOL). Results: All instruments reviewed proved to be reasonably structured and have their place in applied research. None were found that addressed all aspects of the impact of HRT on HRQoL. Conclusion: In order to capture the possible short-term side effects of HRT on HRQoL, it is necessary to modify one or more of the existing instruments or develop a new instrument applicable in many different countries and languages.