Rethinking menopause measurement: untangling the complexities in the Demographic Health Survey data

The Demographic Health Survey (DHS) data currently misclassifies women post-hysterectomy without bilateral oophorectomy, creating a bias that affects research findings, particularly when studying premature menopause. This commentary critiques this methodological flaw, which obscures crucial differences between natural and surgical menopause, ultimately skewing prevalence estimates, risk estimates, and our understanding of health consequences. I argue that including a specific question about oophorectomy status in DHS questionanires is essential for generating accurate data that can inform effective public health policy and interventions globally.