Baseline characteristics for each group of women
| Control (n=34) | Intervention (n=36) | |
| Age (years), mean (SD) | 54.1 (5) | 55.3 (4) |
| Age (years), n (%) | ||
| 40–55 | 13 (38) | 17 (47) |
| 56–65 | 21 (62) | 19 (53) |
| Employment, n (%) | ||
| Employed | 31 (91) | 32 (89) |
| Unemployed | 3 (9) | 4 (11) |
| Education, n (%) | ||
| Vocational | 8 (24) | 8 (22) |
| Short (<3 years) | 4 (12) | 3 (8) |
| Long (≥3 years) | 16 (47) | 22 (61) |
| Other | 6 (18) | 3 (8) |
| Household, n (%) | ||
| Living alone | 1 (3) | 5 (14) |
| Living with others | 33 (97) | 31 (86) |
| Physical activity, n (%) | ||
| No physical activity | 7 (21) | 3 (8) |
| 1–3 times per week | 20 (59) | 23 (64) |
| ≥4 times per week | 7 (21) | 10 (28) |
| Smoking, n (%) | ||
| Yes | 1 (3) | 2 (6) |
| No | 33 (97) | 34 (94) |
| Alcohol, n (%) | ||
| No alcohol | 1 (3) | 8 (22) |
| ≤14 units per week | 29 (85) | 19 (53) |
| >14 units per week | 4 (12) | 9 (25) |
| Body mass index (kg/m2), mean (SD) | 25.5 (5) | 24.9 (3) |
| Menstruation in the last year, n (%) | ||
| Yes | 7 (21) | 11 (31) |
| No | 27 (79) | 25 (69) |
| Number of births, n (%) | ||
| None | 3 (9) | 2 (6) |
| One | 5 (15) | 8 (22) |
| Two | 20 (59) | 18 (50) |
| More than two | 6 (18) | 8 (22) |
| Incontinentia, n (%) | ||
| No | 13 (38) | 10 (28) |
| Yes | 21 (62) | 26 (72) |
| Chronic disease, n (%) | ||
| Yes | 5 (15) | 8 (22) |
| No | 29 (85) | 28 (78) |
| Previous experience with alternative treatment, n (%) | ||
| No | 8 (24) | 10 (28) |
| Yes | 26 (77) | 26 (72) |
| Duration of hot flushes (years), mean (SD) | 3.41 (3) | 4.59 (4) |
| Hot flushes (HF), n (%) | ||
| HF=4 | 20 (59) | 15 (42) |
| HF>4 | 14 (41) | 21 (58) |