Content, Popularity, and Informational Quality of Menopause-Related YouTube Videos: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

¹Private Clinic, Ankara, Turkey

²Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of ART, Acıbadem Kent Hospital, Izmir, Turkey

*Corresponding author: Dr. Bora Coskun, MD, Associate Professor, Doctor, Obstetrics & Gynecology Department, Private Clinic, Ankara, Turkey, Tel: 00 90 532 7672480, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2338-7186; Email: [email protected]

Received Date: February 02, 2026

Published Date: February 14, 2026

Citation: Coskun B, et al. (2026). Content, Popularity, and Informational Quality of Menopause-Related YouTube Videos: A Cross-Sectional Analysis. Mathews J Gynecol Obstet. 11(1):50.

Copyrights: Coskun B, et al. © (2026).

ABSTRACT

Objective: YouTube is increasingly used by women seeking information on menopause; however, the accuracy and educational quality of this content remain uncertain. This study evaluated content characteristics, popularity metrics, and informational quality of menopause-related YouTube videos and compared these parameters by uploader type (professional vs non-professional) and upload period (pre-2021 vs 2021 and later). Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, YouTube was searched on 26.04.2025-22.08.2025 using a newly created account to reduce personalization. The keywords “menopause,” “menopausal symptoms,” and “menopause treatment” were searched with results sorted by relevance. The first 100 videos were screened, and 50 English-language videos meeting inclusion criteria were analyzed. Extracted variables included views, duration, likes, upload date, content category, and uploader type. Engagement metrics were calculated as like-to-view ratio (likes/views ×100), view rate (views/day since upload), and Video Power Index (VPI) using the formula (like-to-view ratio × view rate) / 100. Informational quality was assessed with a structured scoring approach evaluating clarity, completeness, and accuracy across core menopause domains. Comparisons were performed using Mann–Whitney U tests and chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests, as appropriate. Results: Of the 50 videos, most addressed symptom explanation and management (76.0%, n=38), followed by hormone replacement therapy (HRT) (16.0%, n=8), lifestyle/wellness advice (6.0%, n=3), and personal experiences (2.0%, n=1). Uploaders were predominantly gynecologists (56.0%, n=28) and endocrinologists (20.0%, n=10). Overall views were highly skewed (mean 315,420.5±1,200,450.3; median 42,150; range 650–9,500,000). The mean quality score was 8.70±3.80 (median 9; range 2–17). Professional uploaders had significantly higher quality scores than non-professionals (9.30±3.90 vs 6.50±2.80; p=0.018), while VPI did not differ significantly between groups (p=0.420). Videos uploaded in 2021 and later showed higher median VPI than pre-2021 videos (0.680 vs 0.210; p=0.005), but quality scores were similar between periods (p=0.120). Conclusion: Menopause-related YouTube content largely emphasizes symptom explanation, with comparatively limited coverage of HRT and lifestyle interventions. Professional medical uploaders provide higher-quality information, yet engagement metrics do not reliably reflect educational quality. Strategies that promote evidence-based menopause content on video platforms are needed to reduce misinformation and improve public health impact.

Keywords: Menopause, Youtube, Health Information, Hormone Therapy, Video Power Index, Content Quality, Digital Health Literacy.