Social Media and Supplements for Menopausal Symptoms: A Social Media Content Analysis

Social Media and Supplements for Menopausal Symptoms: A Social Media Content Analysis | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 24 June 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Social Media and Supplements for Menopausal Symptoms: A Social Media Content Analysis Authors : Allison Eubanks 0000-0002-2980-3857 [email protected] and Katerina Shvartsman Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175073595.59451600/v1 312 views 165 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Objective To evaluate the role of social media in promoting menopause-related supplements and assess the evidence supporting their efficacy and safety. Design Observational content analysis. Setting Public Instagram posts using menopause-related hashtags. Population or Sample A dataset of 1,000 Instagram posts retrieved using 10 menopause-related hashtags. Methods Using a newly created Instagram account, we reviewed the top 100 posts from each of the 10 most popular menopause hashtags. Posts advertising branded oral supplements were categorized by poster type and message intent. The 20 most frequently promoted supplements were analyzed for active ingredients, monthly cost, and evidence-based efficacy. Data were collected in June 2024. Main Outcome Measures Poster background, content category, ingredient profile, product cost, and safety and efficacy data. Results Of 1,000 Instagram posts reviewed, 661 (66.1%) promoted branded menopause supplements. Only 7.7% were authored by physicians, while most were posted by businesses (30.4%) or non-clinical individuals, including influencers and naturopaths (51.3%). Among the top 20 advertised supplements, common ingredients such as black cohosh and chaste tree extract showed inconsistent evidence. Nearly half (45%) contained proprietary blends, limiting transparency. The average monthly cost was $43.49. Conclusions Menopause supplement marketing on Instagram is dominated by non-clinicians and often lacks supporting evidence or regulatory oversight. Clinicians should be aware of this online landscape and address supplement use during patient consultations. Supplementary Material File (f1.menopause.docx) Download 111.82 KB File (f2.menopause.docx) Download 158.82 KB File (f3.menopause.docx) Download 19.48 KB File (menopause.manuscript.bjog.6.25.docx) Download 106.20 KB File (t1.menopause.docx) Download 19.18 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 24 June 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Collection BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Keywords menopause menopause: hrt regimens Authors Affiliations Allison Eubanks 0000-0002-2980-3857 [email protected] National Institute of Child Health and Human Development View all articles by this author Katerina Shvartsman Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 312 views 165 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Allison Eubanks, Katerina Shvartsman. Social Media and Supplements for Menopausal Symptoms: A Social Media Content Analysis. Authorea . 24 June 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175073595.59451600/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. 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