Menopause in Brazil: lived experiences, inequities, and opportunities for inclusive care (MARIE-Brazil WP2a)

Cristina Benetti-Pinto; Gabriela Pravatta Rezende; Renan Massao Nakamura; Daniela Angerame Yela; Jie Sun; Julie Taylor; Om Kurmi; Sharron Hinchliff; Carol Atkinson; Kristina Potocnik; Vikram Talaulikar; Ashish Shetty; Lucky Saraswat; Kathleen Riach; Jian Qing Shi; Sohier Elneil; Nirmala Rathnayake; Vindya Pathiraja; Jeevan Dhanarisi; Tharanga Mudalige; Teck-Hock Toh; Nihal Al-Riyami; Lamya Al-Kharusi; Yassine Bouchareb; George Uchenna Eleje; Nana Mintah-Afful; Ieera Aggarwal; Muhammad Irfan; Rabia Kareem; Bernard Mbwele; David Chibuike Ikwuka; Helen Felicity Kemp; Peter Phiri; Gayathri Delanerolle

doi:10.1080/03630242.2026.2659044

Menopause in Brazil: lived experiences, inequities, and opportunities for inclusive care (MARIE-Brazil WP2a)

Cristina Benetti-Pinto
, Gabriela Pravatta Rezende
, Renan Massao Nakamura
, Daniela Angerame Yela
, Jie Sun
, Julie Taylor
, Om Kurmi
, Sharron Hinchliff
, Carol Atkinson
, Kristina Potocnik
, Vikram Talaulikar
, Ashish Shetty
, Lucky Saraswat
, Kathleen Riach
, Jian Qing Shi
, Sohier Elneil
, Nirmala Rathnayake
, Vindya Pathiraja
, Jeevan Dhanarisi
, Tharanga Mudalige

Teck-Hock Toh, Nihal Al-Riyami, Lamya Al-Kharusi, Yassine Bouchareb, George Uchenna Eleje, Nana Mintah-Afful, Ieera Aggarwal, Muhammad Irfan, Rabia Kareem, Bernard Mbwele, David Chibuike Ikwuka, Helen Felicity Kemp, Peter Phiri, Gayathri Delanerolle

University of Campinas
Southern University of Science and Technology
University of Birmingham
University of Sheffield
Manchester Metropolitan University
University of Edinburgh
University College London
University of Aberdeen
University of Ruhuna
ESOFT University
Sibu Hospital
Sultan Qaboos University
Nnamdi Azikiwe University
Ethos Clinic
KK Women's and Children's Hospital
Riphah International University
Peshawar Medical College
University of Dar Es Salaam
University of Rwanda
Trauma Healing Together
University of Southampton

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

4 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Despite global prevalence of Menopause, evidence on lived experiences across diverse populations remains limited, particularly in Brazil. Addressing these gaps is essential for designing equitable health policies. MARIE-Brazil conducted a qualitative study to explore menopausal experiences. Twenty women were selected from a cohort of 262 women in the MARIE-Brazil quantitative study who consented to the qualitative phase. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using a topic guide with participants self-identifying as experiencing perimenopause, menopause, or post-menopause. Sampling captured heterogeneity across age, menopausal stage, socio-economic position, ethnicity, and healthcare access. The findings indicate intersecting biological, psychological, socio-cultural, and health system determinants shaping experiences. Participants reported vasomotor symptoms, sleep, cognitive, and urogenital changes that influenced quality of life and occupational participation. Barriers to care included limited clinical knowledge, "front-desk gatekeeping," and financial inaccessibility of treatments. Cultural stigma and gender norms exacerbated inequities, while peer networks and supportive clinicians improved coping. Menopause is not solely a biological milestone but a multifaceted transition shaped by structural and cultural determinants. Findings highlight urgent needs to adapt robust clinical protocols (e.g. Brazilian Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Associations-FEBRASGO, Brazilian Society of Climacteric-SOBRAC) for the public sector (SUS) and provide training for non-clinical staff, and accessible treatment pathways. Incorporating lived experiences into service design and policy frameworks is critical to promoting equity in menopause care across diverse Brazilian population.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	178-194
Number of pages	17
Journal	Women & Health
Volume	66
Issue number	3
Early online date	17 May 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2026.2659044
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 17 May 2026

Bibliographical note

© 2026 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/),which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which thisarticle has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.

Funding

NIHR Research Capacity Development Fund. MARIE Consortium: Donatella Fontana, Aini Hanan binti Azmi, Alyani binti Mohamad Mohsin, Arinze Anthony Onwuegbuna, Artini binti Abidin, Ayyuba Rabiu, Chijioke Chimbo, Chinedu Onwuka Ndukwe, Choon-Moy Ho, Chinyere Ukamaka Onubogu, Diana Chin-Lau Suk, Divinefavour Echezona Malachy, Emmanuel Chukwubuikem Egwuatu, Eunice Yien-Mei Sim, Farhawa binti Zamri, Fatin Imtithal binti Adnan, Geok-Sim Lim, Halima Bashir Muhammad, Ifeoma Bessie Enweani-Nwokelo, Ikechukwu Innocent Mbachu, Jinn-Yinn Phang, John Yen-Sing Lee, Joseph Ifeanyichukwu Ikechebelu, Juhaida binti Jaafar, Karen Christelle, Kathryn Elliot, Kim-Yen Lee, Kingsley Chidiebere Nwaogu, Lee-Leong Wong, Lydia Ijeoma Eleje, Min-Huang Ngu, Noorhazliza binti Abdul Patah, Nor Fareshah binti Mohd Nasir, Norhazura binti Hamdan, Nnanyelugo Chima Ezeora, Nnaedozie Paul Obiegbu, Nurfauzani binti Ibrahim, Nurul Amalina Jaafar, Odigonma Zinobia Ikpeze, Obinna Kenneth Nnabuchi, Pooja Lama, Puong-Rui Lau, Rakshya Parajuli, Rakesh Swarnakar, Raphael Ugochukwu Chikezie, Rosdina Abd Kahar, Safilah Binti Dahian, Sapana Amatya, Sing-Yew Ting, Siti Nurul Aiman, Sunday Onyemaechi Oriji, Susan Chen-Ling Lo, Sylvester Onuegbunam Nweze, Damayanthi Dassanayake, Nimesha Wijayamuni, Prasanna Herath, Thamudi Sundarapperuma, Vaitheswariy Rao, Xin-Sheng Wong, Xiu-Sing Wong, Yee-Theng Lau, Heitor Cavalini, Jean Pierre Gafaranga, Emmanuel Habimana, Chigozie Geoffrey Okafor, Assumpta Chiemeka Osunkwo, Gabriel Chidera Edeh, Esther Ogechi John, Kenechukwu Ezekwesili Obi, Oludolamu Oluyemesi Adedayo, Odili Aloysius Okoye, Chukwuemeka Chukwubuikem Okoro, Ugoy Sonia Ogbonna, Chinelo Onuegbuna Okoye, Babatunde Rufus Kumuyi, Onyebuchi Lynda Ngozi, Nnenna Josephine Egbonnaji, Oluwasegun Ajala Akanni, Perpetua Kelechi Enyinna, Yusuf Alfa, Theresa Nneoma Otis, Catherine Larko Narh Menka, Kwasi Eba Polley, Isaac Lartey Narh, Bernard B. Borteih, Andy Fairclough, Kingsley Emeka Ekwuazi, Michael Nnaa Otis, Jeremy Van Vlymen, Chidiebere Agbo, Francis Chibuike Anigwe, Kingsley Chukwuebuka Agu, Chiamaka Perpetua Chidozie, Chidimma Judith Anyaeche, Clementine Kanazayire, Jean Damascene Hanyurwimfura, Nwankwo Helen Chinwe, Stella Matutina Isingizwe, Jean Marie Vianney Kabutare, Dorcas Uwimpuhwe, Melanie Maombi, Ange Kantarama, Uchechukwu Kevin Nwanna, Benedict Erhite Amalimeh, Theodomir Sebazungu, Elius Tuyisenge, Yvonne Delphine Nsaba Uwera, Emmanuel Habimana, Nasiru Sani, Amarachi Pearl Nkemdirim, Rukshini Puvanendram, Manisha Mathur, Rajeswari Kathirvel, Farah Safdar, Raksha Aiyappan, Jean Pierre Gafaranga, Bertin Ngororano, Victor Archibon, Ibe Michael Usman, Baraka Godfrey Mwahi, Filbert Francis Ilaza, Zepherine Pembe, Clement Mwabenga, Mpoki Kaminyoghe, Brenda Mdoligo, Thomas Alone Saida, Nicodemus E. Mwampashi, Olisaemeka Nnaedozie Okonkwo, Bethel Chinonso Okemeziem, Bethel Nnaemeka Uwakwe, Goodnews Ozioma Igboabuchi, Ifeoma Francisca Ndubuisi.

Funders
National Institute for Health and Care Research

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

perimenopause
inequities
menopause
hot flashes
Healthcare disparities

Access to Document

10.1080/03630242.2026.2659044Licence: CC BY

Kurmi2026VoRFinal published version, 1.81 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Benetti-Pinto, C., Pravatta Rezende, G., Massao Nakamura, R., Yela, D. A., Sun, J., Taylor, J., Kurmi, O., Hinchliff, S., Atkinson, C., Potocnik, K., Talaulikar, V., Shetty, A., Saraswat, L., Riach, K., Shi, J. Q., Elneil, S., Rathnayake, N., Pathiraja, V., Dhanarisi, J., ... Delanerolle, G. (2026). Menopause in Brazil: lived experiences, inequities, and opportunities for inclusive care (MARIE-Brazil WP2a). Women & Health, 66(3), 178-194. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2026.2659044

Benetti-Pinto, C, Pravatta Rezende, G, Massao Nakamura, R, Yela, DA, Sun, J, Taylor, J, Kurmi, O, Hinchliff, S, Atkinson, C, Potocnik, K, Talaulikar, V, Shetty, A, Saraswat, L, Riach, K, Shi, JQ, Elneil, S, Rathnayake, N, Pathiraja, V, Dhanarisi, J, Mudalige, T, Toh, T-H, Al-Riyami, N, Al-Kharusi, L, Bouchareb, Y, Eleje, GU, Mintah-Afful, N, Aggarwal, I, Irfan, M, Kareem, R, Mbwele, B, Ikwuka, DC, Felicity Kemp, H, Phiri, P & Delanerolle, G 2026, 'Menopause in Brazil: lived experiences, inequities, and opportunities for inclusive care (MARIE-Brazil WP2a)', Women & Health, vol. 66, no. 3, pp. 178-194. https://doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2026.2659044

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AU - Elneil, Sohier

AU - Rathnayake, Nirmala

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AU - Toh, Teck-Hock

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Menopause in Brazil: lived experiences, inequities, and opportunities for inclusive care (MARIE-Brazil WP2a)

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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