Articles tagged with Menopause
A new study found that cognitive behavioral therapy significantly improves sleep quality and reduces depressive symptoms in menopausal women. The four-session intervention led to clinically meaningful improvements, regardless of the severity of depression.
A new study confirms vaginal estrogen is effective in managing sexual and urinary problems of menopause without increasing risk of serious health issues like heart disease and cancer. The WHI data review also clears the use of vaginal estrogen for genitourinary syndrome of menopause.
New research highlights same-sex attraction as changing over time, with some women experiencing changes in sexual orientation later in life. Experts stress the importance of open dialogue between patients and healthcare providers about lifestyle changes.
A new study found that postmenopausal women with vulvovaginal atrophy and lower urinary tract problems experience reduced sexual activity due to painful sex. Fear of pain during sex is a common reason for avoiding intimacy.
A new study suggests that transdermal estradiol therapy can effectively treat and prevent perimenopausal depression. Women experiencing more stressful life events showed the greatest improvements in mood. The study's findings highlight the potential of transdermal estradiol as a preventive measure for perimenopausal depression.
Researchers found that menopause triggers metabolic changes in the brain, increasing the risk of Alzheimer's disease. The study used PET imaging to measure glucose metabolism in the brains of 43 healthy women aged 40-60, revealing lower levels of glucose metabolism in post-menopausal women.
A recent genetic study found that men's ability to father children later in life has no link to their longevity, and women's survival past 50 is not favoured by evolution. The research suggests that genes beneficial for both early and late life are the key to understanding why people live beyond 50.
Research suggests that cognitive abilities in grandmothers may have contributed to the emergence and evolution of menopause. Computer simulations found that caring for existing children and grandchildren provided an evolutionary advantage, increasing fertility and survival rates.
Researchers have discovered that adding estrogen to brain regions helps regulate weight and glucose levels in rats with induced menopause. The finding suggests that the medial amygdala is crucial for metabolic health, making it a potential target for treatment.
Women with early or normal onset menopause are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those with late onset menopause. The study found that women who experienced menopause before age 40 were almost 4 times more likely to develop T2D.
A Danish study found that fermented red clover extract effectively prevents hot flushes, hormonal swings, and bone loss in women with menopause. The extract increases the bioavailability of isoflavones, making them easier to digest, and shows promising results without side effects.
A new study suggests that ovarian tissue freezing is a superior option to egg freezing for preserving fertility, reversing menopause, and promoting natural conception. Nearly 37% of women who underwent the procedure were able to have children later in life, with nearly two-thirds experiencing restored natural fertility.
A new study from UMass Amherst suggests that long-term, high intake of vegetable protein from whole grains, soy and tofu may protect women from early menopause. Women consuming approximately 6.5% of their daily calories as vegetable protein had a significant 16% lower risk of early menopause.
Postmenopausal women with shorter reproductive duration, earlier age at menopause, or who never gave birth are at higher risk for heart failure. Women with diastolic heart failure, a type of heart failure affecting the left side of the heart, also face increased risk.
A UMass Amherst study found that high intake of dietary vitamin D and calcium is associated with a modest lower risk of early menopause. The study, which analyzed data from over 116,000 female nurses, suggests that vitamin D from food sources may play a role in reducing the risk of early menopause.
Women who undergo postmenopausal hormone therapy may be at higher risk of hearing loss, according to a new study. The risk tends to increase with longer duration of use and is associated with older age at natural menopause.
A new Penn study reveals that women who experience multiple traumatic events during childhood or adolescence are more likely to develop depression during perimenopause. Women who experienced their first traumatic event in their teens are particularly susceptible, even if they had previously never had depression.
A review of studies on menopause symptoms found that women frequently use alternative treatments but often don't inform their doctors. The University of Delaware study suggests improving communication between healthcare providers and patients using CAM can boost treatment efficacy.
Women who started menstruating early may face a higher risk of stroke, according to research published in Neuroepidemiology. Starting periods at age 13 or younger increases the risk by 1.8 times compared to those who started at age 15. Further research is needed to confirm this association.
Researchers identified distinct changes in bone mineral content and area among midlife women transitioning through menopause, contradicting previous assumptions about bone expansion. The findings suggest that individual variability in bone structure can be used to identify women at risk of fractures far in advance.
A new study reveals that anxiety in postmenopausal women is associated with increased severity of physical symptoms like hot flashes and sleep disruption. The study found a significant link between anxiety and urogenital symptoms, highlighting the importance of screening for anxiety to improve quality of life.
A large international study has linked early puberty and childlessness to an increased risk of early menopause. Women who had their first period before age 11 were 80% more likely to experience premature or early menopause.
Women who started their periods before age 12 have an increased risk of premature menopause, with no children amplifying the risk further. The study found that these women are up to five times more likely to experience premature or early menopause.
A study published in Current Biology found that killer whales are one of only three known species to go through menopause due to reproductive conflict with their daughters. Older mothers suffer higher costs competing to reproduce alongside their daughters, leading to a mortality rate 1.7 times higher for younger mothers' offspring.
A study on killer whales found that older females stop reproducing due to conflict with their daughters, which helps younger family members survive. This evolutionary trait is driven by both cooperation and competition within the family group.
Researchers found that greater weight increases the likelihood of night sweats and hot flashes in early menopause, but reduces these symptoms throughout menopause. Maintaining a healthy weight before and at the onset of menopause may help reduce hot flashes and night sweats.
A longitudinal population-based study found that menopausal women experience an accelerated decline in lung function, with declines in forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second comparable to severe smoking. The study highlights the importance of maintaining respiratory health long after the menopausal transition.
A study published by The Menopause Society confirms electro-acupuncture's effectiveness in reducing hot flash severity and improving sleep quality in breast cancer survivors. Electro-acupuncture has been shown to affect neurotransmitters associated with sleep, such as serotonin and melatonin.
A new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism reveals that menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) improves both bone mass and structure, with benefits persisting for at least two years after treatment ends.
A study published in Menopause: The Journal of the North American Menopause Society found that women's sexual function declines significantly before and after menopause, with menopause itself being a key factor. The study also discovered that hysterectomy has a lesser impact on post-surgical sexual decline compared to natural menopause.
A new study using SWAN data shows that black women experience a lower decline in sexual function compared to white and Japanese women during the menopause transition. After the final menstrual period, sexual function scores decreased by 0.35 annually for five years, with smaller declines in black women and larger declines in Japanese w...
A new study analyzing WHI clinical trials data found that women entering menopause before age 40 have a significantly higher fracture risk. Despite using calcium and vitamin D supplements, the risk remains elevated even with hormone therapy.
A study published by The North American Menopause Society found that low-dose estrogen therapy reduced moderate to severe hot flashes and night sweats by 28.3%, 7.4% and 4.2% respectively after 6 months, with sustained improvement over 4 years.
Researchers found that minimal exercise can regulate insulin levels, maintain metabolic function, and help prevent significant weight gain in postmenopausal women. Sedentary rats experienced a 50% reduction in fat tissue after limited physical activity, highlighting the benefits of any amount of exercise.
A new survey reveals that most postmenopausal women are unaware of vaginal atrophy (VVA), a chronic progressive condition causing urinary problems. Women are reluctant to discuss symptoms with their healthcare providers, hindering effective treatment.
A new study found that women who experience frequent nighttime hot flashes and sleep disruption are more likely to exhibit mild symptoms of depression. The researchers suggest menopausal women should be screened for mood disturbances, incorporating efforts to address sleep and nighttime hot flashes.
A new study found that women who start menstruation at a younger age have a higher risk of certain health issues, including coronary heart disease. In contrast, those who experience menopause later in life are more likely to be in excellent health overall and live longer.
A study published in Menopause found that women who began menopause before age 46 or after 55 were at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The study also revealed that the length of a woman's lifetime reproductive cycle was associated with an increased risk of diabetes.
A study of 124,379 postmenopausal women found that shorter and longer reproductive spans increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Women with optimal reproductive durations had lower BMI and waist circumferences compared to those with shorter or longer periods.
UCLA studies find that menopause speeds up cellular aging by an average of 6 percent, making women biologically older than their chronological age. Insomnia also accelerates aging, with postmenopausal women experiencing nearly two years more biological aging due to five insomnia symptoms.
A recent study published in Neurology found that hormone therapy has a negligible impact on verbal memory and mental skills in postmenopausal women, with or without early treatment. The research suggests that healthy women at any stage after menopause should not take estrogen to improve their cognitive abilities.
A large clinical trial has found that estrogen therapy does not impact cognitive function in postmenopausal women, contradicting previous theories. The study suggests that healthy women at any stage after menopause should not take hormone supplements to improve memory.
A study of 3,302 women transitioning through menopause found associations between VMS patterns and demographic, reproductive hormone, and psychosocial factors. Women with early onset VMS were more likely to have elevated depressive symptoms and poorer health.
Researchers followed 1,455 women for 15 years, finding four distinct trajectories for hot flashes and night sweats. Characteristics such as education level, alcohol consumption, and depression/anxiety levels were associated with different symptom patterns.
The European Menopause and Andropause Society publishes a new position statement on healthy menopause and aging. The model emphasizes a holistic approach to midlife women's physical, psychological, and social well-being. It recommends specialist teams and interdisciplinary networks for optimal care.
Researchers developed an index to predict bone loss in women during menopause by considering both bone formation and breakdown. The Bone Balance Index was found to be a stronger predictor of bone loss than a measurement of bone breakdown alone.
A new study published in the journal Menopause found that acupuncture significantly reduced hot flashes and night sweats associated with menopause. The treatment resulted in a 36.7% decline in frequency of hot flashes after six months, with benefits persisting for another year.
A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that telephone-based cognitive behavioral therapy significantly improves sleep quality and reduces insomnia in women through all stages of menopause. The therapy also helps with hot flashes, reducing their interference with daily functioning.
A new care pathway provides evidence-based information for healthcare professionals to address menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease. The pathway emphasizes holistic assessment and personalized approach to maintaining post-reproductive health.
Researchers found that female pelves widen with puberty, reaching full width by age 25-30, but then narrow again after menopause. Hormone levels drive this process, suggesting the body can modulate pelvic dimensions to ensure optimal childbirth.
A new study found that measuring anti-Mullerian hormone in blood can help predict the rate of future bone loss during menopause transition. Women with lower hormone levels are more likely to experience faster-than-average bone loss.
A new study reveals that measuring anti-Mullerian hormone in women during the menopause transition can help predict the rate of future bone loss. The test identifies women at risk of faster-than-average bone loss, allowing for targeted interventions.
A Swedish population study found that estrogen-only therapy carries a lower risk of blood clots than combined estrogen-progestogen therapy. Transdermal estrogen and vaginal estrogen also show no significantly increased risk of blood clots.
A new study suggests that the menopause evolved as a result of a combination of factors, including the 'grandmother hypothesis', which proposes that women live long past reproductive age to care for their grandchildren. The study also found that males who remained at home provided an adaptive benefit by allowing females to focus on rep...
A randomized controlled trial found that physical therapy significantly improves urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, reducing urine leaks by 75%. The treatment involved pelvic floor muscle exercise and retraining with biofeedback.
A large study of over 6,000 Latin American women found that sedentary lifestyles are associated with severe menopause symptoms, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and obesity. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of various health problems, including breast and colon cancer, dementia, and heart disease.
A new study by the University of Cincinnati reveals that migraine headaches increase in frequency and severity for women approaching menopause. Hormonal fluctuations during this time may trigger increased headaches, but researchers also suggest that medication overuse could be a contributing factor.
A meta-analysis of 14 studies representing nearly 68,000 women found that menopause at age 40 or older was associated with a decreased risk for depression compared to premature menopause. Longer reproductive periods and exposure to endogenous estrogens may contribute to this protective effect.
In a phase III trial, DHEA showed significant improvements in vaginal discomfort after menopause, reducing pain with sex by 0.36 points and improving vaginal dryness by 0.27 points compared to a placebo. The treatment also led to increased superficial cells and decreased parabasal cells, indicating improved vaginal health.
The number of compounded hormone therapy prescriptions has reached 26-33 million a year, with sales expected to continue growing despite potential risks. The lack of clinical data and quality control concerns over these products is alarming.