A pragmatic approach to the classification of menopausal status for community-based research

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article was to describe a pragmatic approach to the menopausal status classification of clinical research study participants that allows for women who have gynecological circumstances that mask their natural menstrual pattern. DESIGN: We demonstrate the application of an algorithm for the Health and Wellbeing After Breast Cancer study based on self-reported menstrual cycle pattern, gynecological history, presence or absence of vasomotor symptoms, and systemic hormone use to classify women with newly diagnosed breast cancer as premenopausal, perimenopausal, or postmenopausal for research purposes. RESULTS: Within 12 months of their breast cancer diagnosis, 1,684 par..