Key takeaways:
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and the Soter Women’s Health Research Program (SWHRP) have received a $3.06 million grant from the United States Department of Defense to study how menopause affects the mental and physical health of women veterans. The study will focus on hormones, stress, brain function and gut bacteria.
The four‑year project is co‑led by Tamar Gur , MD, PhD, professor of psychiatry, neuroscience and obstetrics and gynecology at Ohio State College of Medicine , and Stephanie Gorka , PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral health at Ohio State.
“Menopause is a natural stage of life that can involve sleep disruption, mood changes, pain and trouble thinking clearly, making daily life harder,” said Gur, also the Sarah Ross Soter endowed director of the SWHRP. “Women veterans are more likely to experience early menopause, in some cases up to 10 years earlier than civilians, and their symptoms may be amplified by higher rates of trauma, depression, anxiety and chronic pain related to military service. Despite women veterans representing one of the fastest‑growing populations within the Department of Veterans Affairs, research on menopause in military and veteran healthcare has been limited.”
The research team also includes Brett Worly , MD, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Ohio State, who contributes clinical expertise in midlife and menopausal women’s health; Kristen Carpenter , PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral health, who brings expertise in women’s health and psychological interventions; and Jessica Weafer, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral health, whose research focuses on sex differences and neurobiology.
Study design: addressing a gap in women veterans’ health
The study will follow 125 women veterans ages 45–55 receiving care through the Columbus Veterans Affairs Women’s Health Clinic. Participants will complete three visits over one year, including assessments of mood, cognition, sleep, pain and stress; brain‑based measures of emotional processing; hormone testing; and analysis of gut and vaginal bacteria.
“The project takes a whole‑body approach to understanding menopause in women veterans by integrating hormonal changes, stress biology, brain‑based measures and the microbiome,” said Gorka. “The goal is to find data that can inform more effective, targeted care during this critical stage of life.”
Researchers will investigate how hormonal changes during menopause interact with stress and the gut microbiome—communities of microbes that influence immune function, inflammation and brain health. By identifying biological pathways linked to symptom severity, the study aims to inform future personalized treatments.
Broader impact
Although focused on women veterans, research findings will inform menopause care more broadly. Insights may support future strategies targeting mental health, stress regulation and the microbiome, also benefitting civilian women.