Fibromyalgia Syndrome, menstruation. perimenopause and menopause.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The lived experiences of pain for women with Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS), as they experience menstruation, and transition into perimenopause and menopause.
IRAS ID
358294
Contact name
Sally Barlow
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
City St George's, University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a persistent pain condition, for which chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain is the main symptom (1)(2). FMS has a significantly higher prevalence amongst mid-life women (1). Research has found women living with FMS commonly report increased pain when they transition into perimenopause and menopause and for some women, this is the time their FMS symptoms start (3)(4)(5). These stages of reproductive aging are characterised by significant fluctuations and an overall decline in oestrogen levels which has been found to act as an ‘amplifier of pain’ (6)(5). In pre-menopausal women living with FMS, higher levels of pain sensitivity have been reported during phases of the menstrual cycle (7)(3). However, current FMS guidelines do not consider the influence of sex hormones or menopausal status as a contributor to symptomology (8), including pain.
Perimenopausal and menopausal women with a diagnosis of FMS will be enrolled into this study. A purposeful sample will be recruited from a community-based NHS pain service in East London. Qualitative data will be collected via face-to-face or online individual semi-structured interviews, dependant on participant preference. Research questions will explore how women living with FMS perceive menstruation and the transition into perimenopause or menopause impacts their experience of pain, and whether their hormonal status is considered within the management of pain during their care pathway. This research will also seek to understand what women living with FMS would find helpful within their care pathway, to support them through times of hormonal change.
This research aligns with the call for more research to reduce the disparities in health and care provision that currently exist for women (9). This project aims to listen to the voices of women with FMS, to better understand their changing healthcare needs throughout stages of their reproductive life span (9).
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2. Vidal-Neira LF, Neyro JL, Maldonado G, Messina OD, Moreno-Alvarez M, Ríos C. Climacteric and fibromyalgia: a review. 2024;27(5):458–65.
3. Ozcivit IB, Erel CT, Durmusoglu F. Can fibromyalgia be considered a characteristic symptom of climacterium? 2023;99(1170):244–51.
4. Strand NH, D’Souza RS, Gomez DA, Whitney MA, Attanti S, Anderson MA, et al. Pain during menopause. 2025;191:108135.
5. Gibson CJ, Li Y, Bertenthal D, Huang AJ, Seal KH. Menopause symptoms and chronic pain in a national sample of midlife women veterans. 2019;26(7):708–13.
6. Schertzinger M, Wesson-Sides K, Parkitny L, Younger J. Daily Fluctuations of Progesterone and Testosterone Are Associated With Fibromyalgia Pain Severity. 2018;19(4):410–7.
7. Alonso C, Loevinger BL, Muller D, Coe CL. Menstrual cycle influences on pain and emotion in women with fibromyalgia. 2004;57(5):451–8.
8. Royal College of Physicians: The Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia Syndrome. 2022.
9. The Women’s Health Strategy for England (2022).REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/EE/0216
Date of REC Opinion
11 Nov 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion