Articles tagged with Menopause
A new study published in Menopause found that obesity and abdominal obesity significantly increase the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Maintaining a healthy body weight is key to preventing these conditions.
Researchers investigated the association between family history of breast cancer and mammographic breast density among 14,000 premenopausal women. The study found a positive correlation between having a family history of breast cancer and higher mammographic breast density in these women.
A new study finds that women who experienced their own abuse and witnessed the abuse of others have an earlier age of menopause. The research, published in Menopause, suggests that maternal childhood physical abuse and child sexual abuse accelerate maternal menopause timing by 8.78 years.
A new study found that more than half of postmenopausal women suffer from female pattern hair loss, a condition characterized by gradual thinning at the part line. The study also discovered a significant association between obesity and worsening hair loss in postmenopausal women.
Research published in BMJ Open found that older women with higher oestrogen levels had a lower risk of severe COVID-19 infection and death. Women taking hormone replacement therapy also showed a significantly reduced risk of dying from COVID-19, highlighting the potential benefits of hormonal treatment in reducing infection severity.
A new study has found a potential predictor for perimenopause in the form of IgG glycome composition, which may lead to improved diagnosis and treatment options. The study analyzed nearly 2000 women over 15 years and discovered changes in the IgG glycome that occur rapidly during menopause.
A UMass Amherst study found associations between oral contraceptive use and certain tubal ligation methods with lower levels of antimüllerian hormone (AMH), a biomarker for ovarian aging. This may suggest an increased risk for early menopause in women who have used oral contraceptives or undergone specific types of tubal ligation.
A new study reveals that bilateral oophorectomy may increase a woman's risk for dementia, with a 55% higher risk from age 65 years onward compared to men. Estrogen levels are suspected to play a key role in this association.
A new study suggests that music therapy can significantly decrease depression scores and help reduce menopause symptoms in postmenopausal women. This innovative approach has the potential to be used as a nonpharmacologic therapeutic option for managing menopause symptoms, particularly mood symptoms.
A new study found that resilience is linked to improved sexual health and overall well-being in menopausal women. Women with higher resilience scores had better quality of life during the menopause transition.
A new study published in Menopause journal reveals that severe depression and sexual dysfunction can impair a woman's cognitive skills, including orientation, registration, attention, recall, and language. The study suggests that these symptoms have a significant impact on women's overall cognitive performance.
A study found that arterial stiffness increases with age, but hormonal fluctuations also play a role. Women's hormone levels, particularly estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone, were associated with stiffer arteries, while older women had stiffer vessels regardless of hormone status.
A new study found that hormonal changes during menopause lead to gastrointestinal problems such as indigestion, nausea, and bloating. The study suggests an association between race/ethnicity and menopause status with GI symptoms, with different racial/ethnic groups experiencing varying severities of symptoms.
A study of over 200,500 women found an increased risk of death in younger pre-menopausal women when ovaries and fallopian tubes were removed during surgery. In contrast, the procedure is safer for older post-menopausal women, whose ovaries have already stopped producing estrogen.
A study conducted at the University of Jyväskylä found that physically active lifestyle mitigates unfavourable changes in metabolic health during menopause. Menopausal transition is associated with increased abdominal fat mass, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels.
A new study found that hot flashes are less common in women with sarcopenia, and are positively associated with paraspinal muscle mass. The research highlights the need for further studies to understand the relationships between menopause symptoms, body composition, and aging.
A new study suggests that greater cumulative estrogen exposure in life may counter the brain-shrinking effect of menopause. Women with longer reproductive years, more children, and hormone therapy showed increased gray matter volume in certain brain areas. This protective effect may help reduce Alzheimer's risk in women.
A new study from the University of Eastern Finland found that postmenopausal women experience a significant decrease in bone mineral density, but at a lower rate than previously assumed. Women who received hormone replacement therapy and those with weight gain during follow-up showed minimal bone loss.
A new study found that women whose menstrual cycle length increased two years before menopause had better vascular health than those with stable cycles. Changes in cycle length may predict cardiovascular disease risk, allowing clinicians to recommend preventive strategies.
A new study using SWAN data suggests that changes in menstrual cycle length during the menopause transition can predict a woman's risk of developing atherosclerosis after menopause. Women with early increase trajectories had the worst cardiometabolic risk profile.
A new trial has found that vaginal laser therapy treatments claim to reduce negative vaginal symptoms of menopause – experienced by about half of all women – by up to 100 per cent. However, the study shows they might not work at all, with no difference found between the laser treatment and a placebo.
Researchers found a chemical inhibitor of PDE9 stimulates cells to burn more fat in mice, reducing obesity and fatty liver. The study's findings suggest the experimental drug may be effective in treating severe obesity and improving heart function.
A study of over 3,300 women found that those with a history of migraines were more likely to experience severe or very severe hot flashes and worse menopause symptoms. The research suggests neurovascular dysregulation may explain the link between migraines and hot flashes, as well as their association with heart disease.
A new study suggests that sedentary behavior can increase the likelihood of nighttime hot flashes in midlife women. The research found that sedentary behavior independently predicts objective and subjective hot flash experience, even when accounting for moderate-to-vigorous activity levels.
A recent study found that nearly a third of women near the menopause transition use cannabis to help manage their symptoms, with 75% using it for medical purposes. The most common reasons for use included sleep issues and anxiety, with three-quarters of current users reporting relief from their symptoms.
Common hair loss patterns in women include progressive ponytail thinning, increased scalp visibility, and easy sunburn. New therapies such as platelet-rich plasma injections offer promise for stimulating hair growth and minimizing thinning, while treatments like minoxidil and finasteride may also be effective.
A new study suggests that a nutraceutical supplement may improve hair growth and quality in perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal women. Researchers found significant increases in mean total hair counts and global hair quality improvements with few side effects.
Researchers are investigating several nonhormone therapies to manage vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause. These treatments have the potential to improve women's quality of life by reducing sleep and mood disruption caused by hot flashes.
A new study based on SWAN data suggests that a higher radiodensity of perivascular adipose tissue in midlife women is associated with worse working memory performance later in life. The quality, not quantity, of cardiovascular fat may serve as a novel biomarker for cognitive function status.
Research shows that estrogen replacement during menopause reduces the risk of bone fractures, diabetes, and cancer, but increases stroke, blood clots, and breast/ovarian cancer risk. The quality of systematic reviews on MHT is mixed, with some findings inconclusive.
Researchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences are investigating the biological complexities of Alzheimer's disease in women during midlife aging. The study aims to reveal transformations in the brain that lead to greater risk of Alzheimer's, with a focus on the menopausal transition.
Scientists have identified nearly 300 gene variations that influence reproductive lifespan in women. Manipulating key genes in mice extended their reproductive lifespan, providing insights into the biology of reproductive ageing.
Researchers determined that a woman's 'vascular age' is a better indicator for cardiovascular disease risk than her chronological age or years since menopause. Hormone therapy brings increased risk of cardiovascular disease, but 'vascular age' provides a clearer answer for physicians making decisions about hormone therapy.
A new study published in the North American Menopause Society's journal Menopause found that a plant-based diet rich in soy reduces moderate-to-severe hot flashes by 84%, with nearly 60% of women becoming free of these symptoms. The study also showed improvements in sexual symptoms, mood, and overall energy.
Researchers found menopause in two distinct killer whale ecotypes, with striking similarities between them. The study suggests that the evolutionary benefits of grandmothering may be a key factor in the development of menopause.
Women who experience early menopause before age 40 have a 40% increased risk of developing coronary heart disease over their lifetime. The study suggests that clinicians should ask women about their menopause status earlier to optimize cardiovascular health and prevent heart disease.
A Danish study of over 173,000 women found that girls with a higher BMI during childhood had lower breast cancer risks both before and after menopause. The research suggests an inverse association between childhood BMI and breast cancer risk, but further studies are needed to understand the underlying mechanisms.
A study found that women with a history of migraine before menopause are at a 29% higher risk of developing high blood pressure after menopause. This association was observed even among those without aura and could be linked to early signs of arterial stiffness.
A new study published in Menopause suggests that poor sleep quality is associated with female sexual dysfunction, while good sleep quality is linked to increased sexual activity. The study of over 3,400 women found that insufficient sleep quality was a significant factor in female sexual problems during midlife.
Researchers developed a predictive model to estimate the age of natural menopause in middle-aged women based on hormone levels, menstrual cycle irregularities, and lifestyle factors. The study demonstrated adequate prediction accuracy, suggesting potential benefits for health promotion and family planning decisions.
A study published in JAMA found that the age at natural menopause has increased in US women over the past 60 years, with a corresponding increase in reproductive life span. The research suggests that longer reproductive life spans may be associated with better metabolic health outcomes due to prolonged estrogen exposure.
A new pilot study suggests that administering platelet-rich plasma and gonadotropins near the ovarian follicles can restore ovarian function in women during early menopause. The results show that 11 out of 12 participants resumed menstruation, with one achieving clinical pregnancy.
Research suggests that sleep disturbances during menopause may contribute to changes in the body that increase the risk of weight gain and related diseases. The study found that poor sleep reduced fat utilization, increasing the likelihood of fat storage and subsequent weight gain.
A study by Queen Mary University researchers investigated how women at high risk of ovarian cancer make choices about possible preventive surgery. Women who have BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations have a higher lifetime risk of ovarian cancer, and may choose to undergo surgery to reduce their risk.
A study of over 2,700 women found that social support does not moderate the impact of stressful events on menopause symptoms. Women who experienced stressful events had a significant increase in symptoms, regardless of their level of social support.
A recent study published in Maturitas found that UV-radiation can affect the levels of oestrogens and gonadotropins in postmenopausal women, increasing the risk of osteoporosis, cardiac diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. Researchers recommend carefully monitoring sun exposure to prevent harm.
Researchers found a correlation between inflammatory molecules and depression severity, as well as a link between specific symptoms of menopause and depression. The study used data from the Dallas Heart Study to analyze the association between GlycA levels and depressive symptoms in adults.
The menopause transition is a time of increasing heart disease risk for women, with significant changes in cardiometabolic and vascular health occurring during this phase. Early intervention strategies, such as hormone therapy and lifestyle modifications, are crucial to maintaining healthy heart function and reducing cardiovascular risk.
Women with premature menopause are at higher risk of developing coronary artery disease due to the presence of clonal hematopoiesis in their blood cells. The study found a 36% increased likelihood of clonal hematopoiesis and a 48% higher risk of coronary artery disease among women with premature menopause.
Recent advances in nonhormone therapy provide women with more options for managing hot flashes. The new treatments target the KNDy neuron complex, which is activated during menopause, resulting in hot flashes. These innovations include drugs developed for pain control and mood disorders acting via KNDy.
A new study finds that over half of women with menopause symptoms in Northern California are using cannabis to manage hot flashes, night sweats, and insomnia. The study also shows that more than a quarter of participants express interest in trying cannabis for menopause symptom management.
A significant percentage of women continue to value sex throughout midlife, with factors like ethnicity, health, and depression symptoms affecting their interest. The study identified three distinct trajectories in importance of sex with aging, with black women and those with higher education maintaining high levels of importance.
A new study confirms hormone therapy reduces biomarkers of inflammation in postmenopausal women, with greatest benefits seen in those nearing menopause. The study suggests hormone therapy may slow progression of atherosclerosis by targeting inflammatory processes.
A new study finds that midlife women who endured childhood or adult trauma are more likely to suffer from persistently poor-quality sleep. The study involved 166 women aged 40-60 and used actigraphy to measure sleep patterns over five years.
A new study suggests that women experiencing two or more moderate to severe menopause symptoms are at a significantly higher risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke. The research found no association with other health outcomes, such as cancer risk, when supplementation of calcium and vitamin D was investigated.
Fetal estrogens, such as estetrol and estriol, show promising characteristics in reducing hot flashes and improving cardiovascular health. They may also provide added benefits that have yet to be fully explored, making them a promising new approach to hormone therapy.
A study identified mitochondrial biomarkers as significant contributors to memory decline after menopause, shedding light on the importance of energy production in women's cognitive health. Researchers found that efficient mitochondrial function was associated with better cognitive performance, particularly in executive functions.
A new study from the University of Copenhagen found that postmenopausal women have impaired formation of small blood vessels in their muscles, which can lead to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Physical activity prior to menopause may help prevent this decline.
A new study published in the Journal of Physiology found that exercising before menopause is crucial for women to develop blood vessels in muscles and improve muscle strength. The research revealed that capillaries in skeletal muscle are essential for physical capacity, health, and insulin sensitivity, which can lead to Type II diabetes.
A study published in Menopause: The Journal of the North American Menopause Society found that women with a history of high blood pressure disorders during pregnancy reported more bothersome menopausal symptoms. Women using hormone therapy also experienced more severe symptoms compared to those without a high blood pressure history.