OBJECTIVES: A study was performed to determine quality of life (QoL) and utility scores associated with 3 stages of menopause: pre-menopause, perimenopause and post-menopause. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Canada to determine the quality of life and utility scores associated with each stage of menopause as listed above. Women age 48-54 were recruited through primary care practices.  The Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL), a non-preference-based QoL measure, included 29 items from 4 domains. Two preference-based tools were applied: Health Utilities Index Mark-3 (HUI-3) with 8 domains as an indirect measure of utility and a visual analogue scale (VAS) as a direct measure of disutility for menopausal symptoms. Mean and standard deviations (SD) were reported. Spearman’s-rho test was applied for correlation between the various tools. Multiple regression analyses were performed to assess if demographic characteristics predicted scores on any of the measures, including individual MENQOL symptom scores. RESULTS: A total of 403 female subjects were recruited from 11 primary care practices in 4 provinces; 60% were employed and 63% had completed college.  The mean MENQOL symptom scores ranged 3.1(SD=2.0) to 3.4(SD=2.1) out of 8. Specific MENQOL scores ranged 2.1-2.7, 3.0-3.6 and 3.4-3.9 for pre-, peri- and post-menopause respectively. HUI-3 scores were 0.83, 0.78 and 0.74 for the same sequence [overall 0.77 (SD=0.25)], and disutility scores with the VAS were 0.22, 0.37 and 0.37. The MENQOL vasomotor, psychological, physical and sexual domain scores correlated significantly with both VAS and HUI-3 scores (p<0.001). Some demographic variables were associated with certain domains of the MENQOL or the HUI-3; however, no significant associations were noted for age or education. Significant differences existed in utility scores between pre- and post-menopause. CONCLUSIONS: Of the three menopause subgroups investigated, the pre-menopause group was associated with the best QoL; QoL did not differ significantly between peri- and post-menopause.