Menopause (New York, N.Y.)[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
The Food and Drug Administration boxed warning on menopausal hormone therapy: history, impact, and a regulatory inflection point in women's health.
Buchanan LA, Calkins MW, Kirk JK
Menopause · 2026 Apr · PMID 41979564 · Publisher ↗
The removal of the Food and Drug Administration boxed warning from menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) products in November 2025 marks a historic regulatory inflection point in women's health. This manuscript reviews the hi...
The removal of the Food and Drug Administration boxed warning from menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) products in November 2025 marks a historic regulatory inflection point in women's health. This manuscript reviews the history and purpose of boxed warnings, examines the Women's Health Initiative-era rationale that led to the class-wide application of boxed warnings across all MHT formulations and routes of administration, and analyzes the long-term clinical, educational, and public health consequences of MHT avoidance driven largely by this regulatory action. We synthesize decades of post Women's Health Initiative evidence demonstrating substantial heterogeneity in MHT risk and benefit by age, timing of initiation, formulation, and route of administration. To contextualize the lifecycle of the MHT boxed warning, we compare it with three instructive regulatory parallels: canagliflozin, illustrating regulatory agility when benefit- risk balance evolves; varenicline, showing how a boxed warning led to a sharp decline in prescribing that was later not supported by randomized trial evidence; and topical calcineurin inhibitors, highlighting the pitfalls of route-agnostic class-effect labeling. We further examine the persistent impact of the boxed warning on prescribing patterns, menopause education, and primary care training, and propose a framework for regulatory reform and necessary clinician education.
Prospective study of reproductive span and menopausal hormone therapy and cognitive decline over 8 years in the Nurses' Health Study.
Juramt N, Kang JH, Wang DD … +11 more , Vyas CM, Peng C, Curhan S, Warner ET, Zeleznik OA, Rosner BA, Wang M, Stampfer MJ, Grodstein F, Okereke OI, Eliassen AH
Menopause · 2026 Apr · PMID 41979543 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVES: Higher endogenous estrogen may be associated with better cognition, but associations with menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) have been inconsistent, possibly due to differences in the timing of use. This prospe...
OBJECTIVES: Higher endogenous estrogen may be associated with better cognition, but associations with menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) have been inconsistent, possibly due to differences in the timing of use. This prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the associations between reproductive span, as a proxy for endogenous estrogen history, MHT use, and cognitive function. METHODS: We assessed cognitive change (1995-2008) with four telephone interviews (primary outcome: global composite score average of six test z-scores) in 14,217 Nurses' Health Study participants (mean age 74.3 y) and examined associations with reproductive span ([age at menopause]-[age at menarche]), and MHT use duration, separately by 0-10 years, and 11+ years after menopause. RESULTS: A longer reproductive span was associated with better cognitive trajectories (mean annual rate of change difference [95% CI]41-46 vs. ≤33 y=0.008 [0.00005, 0.015]; P-trend=0.02). MHT use 0-10 years postmenopause was associated with faster decline (mean difference8-10 vs. 0 y=-0.007 [-0.016, 0.002]; P-trend=0.02); use during 11+ years postmenopause was not associated. CONCLUSIONS: Although MHT use was not inversely associated, a longer reproductive span was associated with better cognitive trajectories.
Efficacy and safety of GS1-144, a novel neurokinin 3 receptor antagonist, for moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause in Chinese women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial.
Wang Y, Wang X, Wang W … +14 more , Lin J, He Y, Chen H, Shou H, Ai X, Zhang Q, Cai Y, Wu Y, Guo R, Hu L, Chen H, Xiang W, Pan C, Yu Q
Menopause · 2026 Apr · PMID 41979542 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVE: This multicenter, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial investigated the efficacy and safety of the selective neurokinin 3 receptor (NK3R) antagonist GS1-144 for moderate-to-severe vasomo...
OBJECTIVE: This multicenter, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial investigated the efficacy and safety of the selective neurokinin 3 receptor (NK3R) antagonist GS1-144 for moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS). METHODS: Eligible participants aged between 40 and 64 years randomly (1:1:1:1) received GS1-144 30 mg once daily (QD), 60 mg QD, or 30 mg twice daily (BID) and placebo for 12 weeks. Co-primary endpoints were the mean change in the frequency and severity of moderate-to-severe VMS from baseline to weeks 4 and 12. RESULTS: Among 276 randomized participants, 271 (98.2%) and 258 (93.5%) completed 4 and 12 weeks of treatment, respectively. VMS frequency was significantly reduced versus placebo for GS1-144 30 mg BID at week 4 (difference in change in least squares mean -1.31 [90% CI: -2.35 to -0.26], P=0.04) and week 12 (-1.41 [-2.28 to -0.54], P=0.008), and for GS1-144 60 mg QD at week 12 (-1.42 [-2.28 to 0.55], P=0.007). GS1-144 30 mg BID and 60 mg QD significantly reduced VMS severity versus placebo at week 4 (-0.14 [-0.26 to -0.01], P=0.07; -0.13 [-0.26 to -0.01], P=0.07) and week 12 (-0.24 [-0.43 to -0.05], P=0.04; -0.19 [-0.38 to 0.00], P=0.098). Treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 67.6% (140/207) of participants who received GS1-144 and 62.3% (43/69) in the placebo group. No liver safety risks were observed with GS1-144. CONCLUSIONS: GS1-144 is well tolerated and significantly reduces VMS frequency and severity in postmenopausal Chinese women.
Bone health literacy and risk perception in perimenopausal to early postmenopausal breast cancer patients: the mediating role of self-efficacy.
Gai Z, Ma X, Du Y … +5 more , Li J, Liu L, Yan L, Sun J, Cao B
Menopause · 2026 Apr · PMID 41979537 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the level of bone health literacy among breast cancer patients in perimenopause and early menopause and to examine the mediating role of osteoporosis self-efficacy in the relationshi...
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the level of bone health literacy among breast cancer patients in perimenopause and early menopause and to examine the mediating role of osteoporosis self-efficacy in the relationship between risk perception and bone health literacy. METHODS: This study is descriptive. A convenience sampling method was employed to recruit 323 breast cancer patients in perimenopause and early menopause from two tertiary hospitals in Shaanxi and Shandong Provinces, China, between March 2025 and May 2025. The primary outcome, bone health literacy, was assessed using the Bone Health Literacy Scale. Secondary outcomes, including risk perception and osteoporosis self-efficacy, were measured using their respective scales. Mediation analysis was conducted using SPSS version 26.0. RESULTS: The mean bone health literacy score among breast cancer patients in perimenopause and early menopause was 44.00 (38.00, 48.00), with a proficiency rate of 10.84%. Both risk perception and osteoporosis self-efficacy were positively correlated with bone health literacy (P<0.05). Osteoporosis self-efficacy was found to partially mediate the relationship between risk perception and bone health literacy. CONCLUSIONS: Bone health literacy among breast cancer patients in perimenopause and early menopause remains suboptimal. The findings of this study may inform the development of targeted intervention programs aimed at improving bone health literacy and ultimately enhancing quality of life.
Perimenopause and menopause in the military: a scoping review.
Segovia LM, Cox S, Matthews S … +3 more , Bailey DG, Phillips AK, Huffman S
Menopause · 2026 Mar · PMID 41945466 · Publisher ↗
IMPORTANCE AND OBJECTIVE: Military service shapes the health and wellness of its members through a complex interplay of factors. These dynamics may influence the perimenopausal and menopausal experiences among military s...
IMPORTANCE AND OBJECTIVE: Military service shapes the health and wellness of its members through a complex interplay of factors. These dynamics may influence the perimenopausal and menopausal experiences among military servicemembers. The objective of this scoping review is to identify and analyze literature on perimenopause/menopause in the military, explore geographical differences in menopausal experiences, and highlight knowledge gaps to guide future research studies and policy development. METHODS: CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception until September 2024. The results were reported using PRISMA-ScR. DISCUSSION: Eighteen articles were included in this scoping review. Most studies were conducted in the United States (83%), among veterans (67%), and focused on a variety of outcomes. The major themes addressed in the articles included participant menopausal knowledge, menopausal hormone therapy, experience of menopause, and resources. CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review systematically synthesized the evidence to offer a comprehensive overview of perimenopausal and menopausal research in a military context. Several gaps were identified, leading to the establishment of focused priorities for future research.
Changes in female sexual function during the retirement transition.
Virkkunen V, Kero K, Stenholm S … +1 more , Polo-Kantola P
Menopause · 2026 Apr · PMID 41941322 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVES: For many women, retirement represents a significant transition in late adulthood, which may result in many alterations in lifestyle habits and behavioral patterns. Several factors known to improve during the...
OBJECTIVES: For many women, retirement represents a significant transition in late adulthood, which may result in many alterations in lifestyle habits and behavioral patterns. Several factors known to improve during the retirement transition are also associated with female sexual function; however, the literature on the influence of retirement on female sexual function remains limited. In this study, we examined changes in female sexual function during the retirement transition. METHODS: The population for this prospective follow-up study consisted of 110 women (mean age 63.1 y) from the Finnish Retirement and Aging study cohort. Data were collected annually before and after retirement. Sexual function was assessed with the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire, which includes a total score and subdomain scores for desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, pain, and satisfaction. RESULTS: The total Female Sexual Function Index score remained stable from preretirement to postretirement. The desire score improved from the preretirement level by 0.11 points (95% CI: 0.01-0.20, P=0.03), whereas the lubrication score changed by -0.29 points, although this change did not reach statistical significance (95% CI: -0.60 to 0.03, P=0.07). The scores for arousal, orgasm, pain, and satisfaction remained stable. CONCLUSIONS: During the retirement transition, sexual function remained mostly unchanged, but sexual desire improved. Future studies with longer follow-ups and larger sample sizes are warranted to investigate the evolution of female sexual function after retirement and identify the potential underlying factors of this phenomenon.
Tailoring menopause education to the needs of primary care clinicians: the Oregon menopause ECHO experience.
Clark AL, Brandis L, Hyde S … +6 more , Ray M, Williams CD, McClung MR, Griffin EE, Durr RL, Adams KE
Menopause · 2026 Apr · PMID 41941304 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to conduct an educational needs assessment for practicing primary care clinicians using Project ECHO® (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes), a platform for telementoring healthcare professiona...
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to conduct an educational needs assessment for practicing primary care clinicians using Project ECHO® (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes), a platform for telementoring healthcare professionals in rural and under-resourced areas. METHODS: We conducted 12 weekly and monthly, 1-hour sessions comprised of brief didactics and facilitated discussions of real, deidentified cases. Didactic topics included perimenopause, mood, hormone and nonhormone therapies, genitourinary symptoms, and skeletal health. Feedback was obtained by preprogram, postprogram, and weekly surveys via REDCap. Participants rated the faculty-selected curriculum and discussions with Likert items. Qualitative assessment of participant comments, questions, case presentations, and chat discussions was performed to identify needs for additional educational topics. RESULTS: Participants included 54 physicians and advanced practitioners from 17 of Oregon's 36 counties, 1 urban, 7 urban/rural, 8 rural, and 1 frontier. The didactic content and case discussions were rated highly, with Likert scores of 5.3-5.5 (scale, 1-6), for being evidence-based, objective, and relevant. Confidence in performing targeted activities relating to menopause care was improved from scores of 2.0-2.6 (scale, 1-5) before the program to 3.7-3.9 after the program, P<0.01 for each comparison. We identified several topics for future curricula, including breast health, sexual dysfunction, weight management and abnormal vaginal bleeding. CONCLUSION: For these practicing primary care clinicians, the basic menopause curriculum was highly relevant, but greater depth and complexity were needed to address the characteristics of patients in their practices. The ECHO model was successful in addressing the menopause knowledge gap for diverse types of health care professionals.
Concomitant bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy during benign hysterectomy: clinical determinants, pathologic correlations, and the need for evidence-based guidelines.
Yuksel S, Kar E, Ozcan A
Menopause · 2026 Apr · PMID 41941302 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVE: The decision to perform concomitant oophorectomy at the time of benign hysterectomy may be influenced by factors such as individual characteristics, socioeconomic factors, and surgeon expertise. Although hyste...
OBJECTIVE: The decision to perform concomitant oophorectomy at the time of benign hysterectomy may be influenced by factors such as individual characteristics, socioeconomic factors, and surgeon expertise. Although hysterectomy rates have declined, evidence-based guidance on when to perform concomitant oophorectomy remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate local practice patterns and identify factors associated with the decision to perform oophorectomy in women undergoing hysterectomy for benign indications. METHODS: Women aged 40-55 years who underwent hysterectomy for benign indications with or without concomitant oophorectomy at Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital between June 2020 and July 2021 were included in this retrospective cohort. Demographic, preoperative, intraoperative, postoperative, and pathologic data were analyzed to evaluate factors associated with concomitant bilateral oophorectomy during hysterectomy. RESULTS: Among 372 hysterectomy cases, 158 (42.5%) underwent concomitant bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO). Women in the BSO group were significantly older (49.38 ± 3.31 vs 45.37 ± 3.42 y; P < 0.001) and had a higher body mass index (BMI; 30.61 ± 5.09 vs 28.59 ± 4.91; P < 0.001). Ovarian cysts or masses were more frequently observed in the BSO group (84.2% vs 49.2%; P < 0.001). However, the proportion of pathologic findings beyond simple cysts was higher in the BSO group than in the non-BSO group (22% vs 6%; P < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression showed that age, BMI, the presence of ovarian cysts, and endometrioma were independent predictors of BSO (overall model accuracy 85.9%; Nagelkerke R² = 0.65). No significant differences were observed in operative time, history of prior abdominal surgery, or comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant BSO remains commonly performed in perimenopausal women undergoing hysterectomy, and is primarily influenced by women's age, BMI, and intraoperative findings. Given the potential risks associated with surgical menopause, a more selective approach incorporating intraoperative assessment, guideline-based age thresholds, and improved counseling may help optimize clinical decision-making and surgical outcomes.
A verbal and visual account of the perceived influences on health-promoting behaviors among women at midlife navigating perimenopause.
Whelan ME, Orme MW, Pearce K … +6 more , Duffy C, Lloyd-Evans P, Mukherjee A, Speight J, Tapp R, Dunstan DW
Menopause · 2026 Apr · PMID 41941301 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVES: Women at midlife face a heightened risk of developing long-term health conditions. Perimenopause, a life phase covering the lead-up to and first 12 months after the final menstrual period, typically impacts w...
OBJECTIVES: Women at midlife face a heightened risk of developing long-term health conditions. Perimenopause, a life phase covering the lead-up to and first 12 months after the final menstrual period, typically impacts women at midlife, creates unique challenges and influences on health-promoting behaviors. The aim of this study was to characterise perceived influences on health-promoting behaviors (sleep, physical activity, sedentary behavior, diet) among women navigating perimenopause. METHODS: A qualitative interview study with embedded photovoice. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with women aged 45-60 years in England who reported they were navigating perimenopause. The interview questions were informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework. Responses to questions were complemented by a discussion of photographs taken by participants in the week before their interview to capture personal experiences of factors influencing health-promoting behaviors. Interview transcripts and photographs were deductively coded to the Theoretical Domains Framework domains. RESULTS: Twenty-four women participated in interviews, and 20 (83.3%) women provided 118 photographs. Most participants were aged 45-49 years (54%), reported a White British background (81%), full-time work (54%), caring responsibilities (62%), and a quarter (27%) reported living in areas rated in the lowest 50% of indices of multiple deprivation. The four most prominent domains identified in the data were social and professional role and identity, environmental context and resources, beliefs about capabilities, and beliefs about consequences. CONCLUSIONS: Health-promoting behaviors among women navigating perimenopause were influenced predominantly by individual and environmental factors. Through identifying the factors that influence healthy eating, sleep, sedentary behavior, and physical activity, we can inform intervention development, guidelines, and practical strategies in the context of the unique challenges faced by women navigating perimenopause.
Use of transdermal testosterone to treat menopausal symptoms in women with a history of breast cancer: a small, retrospective, open-label study.
Glynne S, Kamal A, Neville A … +3 more , McColl L, Reisel D, Newson L
Menopause · 2026 Apr · PMID 41941291 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether use of transdermal testosterone therapy is associated with improvement in menopausal symptoms for women with a history of breast cancer. METHODS: A UK-based, open-label, retrospective coh...
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether use of transdermal testosterone therapy is associated with improvement in menopausal symptoms for women with a history of breast cancer. METHODS: A UK-based, open-label, retrospective cohort study. The Menopause Symptom Questionnaire (MSQ) was used to measure the prevalence and severity of menopausal symptoms in perimenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer survivors before and after treatment with transdermal testosterone. RESULTS: Forty-seven women were included (mean age 48.1 ± 8.6 y; mean time since breast cancer diagnosis 6.0 ± 5.7 y). At baseline the menopausal symptom burden was high. Fatigue, cognitive symptoms, and reduced libido were the most prevalent symptoms (98%, 96%, and 96% of women, respectively). Treatment with testosterone for 3.7 ± 1.8 months was associated with significant reductions in the prevalence of: night sweats (78.7% vs. 55.3%, P=0.03), anxiety/panic (78.7% vs. 51.1%, P=0.01), unhappy/depressed (80.9% vs. 51.1%, P=0.005), anhedonia (80.9% vs. 59.6%, P=0.04), and palpitations (59.6% vs. 31.9%, P=0.013). The mean MSQ score decreased from 30.81 (± 8.12) to 20.47 (± 8.00) (P<0.001). After excluding libido, the mean MSQ score decreased from 28.36 (± 8.04) to 18.43 (± 7.77) (P≤0.001). Significant reductions in symptom severity were observed for 20 of 24 symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Testosterone therapy was associated with significant improvement in menopause symptoms in women with a history of breast cancer. Placebo-controlled randomised clinical trials are needed to assess the impact of testosterone on menopausal symptoms beyond reduced libido and establish long-term safety in women with a history of breast cancer.
Beyond the medicine cabinet: psychological approaches to midlife sexual concerns.
Shifren J
Menopause · 2026 May · PMID 41941279 · Publisher ↗
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Estimated impact of fezolinetant versus placebo on work productivity and indirect costs among women experiencing vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause.
Morga A, Tai TA, Kapoor R … +5 more , Song W, Hua Q, Hua Y, Yang H, Ajmera M
Menopause · 2026 Mar · PMID 41915440 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the impact of fezolinetant versus placebo on work productivity and indirect costs among women with moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS) associated with menopause in seven countries...
OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the impact of fezolinetant versus placebo on work productivity and indirect costs among women with moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS) associated with menopause in seven countries. METHODS: This post hoc analysis used Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire data from the SKYLIGHT 1 (NCT04003155), SKYLIGHT 2 (NCT04003142), and DAYLIGHT (NCT05033886) trials to compare absenteeism, presenteeism, and productivity loss among fezolinetant-treated versus placebo-treated women with moderate to severe VMS (population 1) and among these women for whom hormone therapy (HT) was unsuitable (population 2). Missed work time was calculated as the product of patient-reported work productivity loss and country-specific work hours and employment rates extracted from publicly available, country-specific sources. Annualized indirect costs were estimated based on missed work time and country-specific estimated salaries. RESULTS: Over 1 year, fezolinetant improved work productivity versus placebo. In population 1, increases ranged from 2.8 (Brazil) to 4.2 (United States) weekly work hours per woman with fezolinetant versus placebo. Fezolinetant resulted in estimated annualized cost savings per woman versus placebo in population 1 of 7,791 USD (United States), 7,295 CAD (Canada), 3,878 GBP (United Kingdom), 8,953 AUD (Australia), 6,193 EUR (Germany), 3,901 EUR (France), and 2,754 BRL (Brazil). Overall work productivity loss improved with fezolinetant versus placebo (population 1: -12.4% [P<0.0001]; population 2: -10.2% [P<0.0001]). CONCLUSIONS: Fezolinetant demonstrated improvements in work productivity and reduced estimated indirect costs versus placebo for women with moderate to severe VMS, including HT-unsuitable women who often face limited treatment options, maintained through 52 weeks.
Night sweats. What if it's not menopause?
Kinney CC
Menopause · 2025 Dec · PMID 41891852 · Publisher ↗
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Midlife under pressure: the alarming rise of obesity and insulin resistance among US women.
El Khoudary SR
Menopause · 2025 Dec · PMID 41891851 · Publisher ↗
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Sexual function and intimate partner violence in middle-aged women: a community-based, dual-focus study in Spain.
Martínez-Madrid MM, González-Cuello A, Arnau-Sánchez J
Menopause · 2026 Mar · PMID 41875274 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between sexual function and intimate partner violence (IPV) among sexually active, middle-aged women in Spain, examining each outcome in separate cross-sectional models. METHODS: Th...
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between sexual function and intimate partner violence (IPV) among sexually active, middle-aged women in Spain, examining each outcome in separate cross-sectional models. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 451 women (40-64 y) randomly recruited from primary care settings in southeastern Spain. Participants completed the 6-item Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-6), the Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST), and a general sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire. Factors associated with low sexual function and a positive IPV screen were analyzed using generalized linear models of the Poisson family to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR). RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 50.09±7.05 years. The prevalence of low sexual function (FSFI-6 score ≤19) was 33.7%, and the prevalence of a positive IPV screen (WAST score ≥14) was 16.6%. Low sexual function was higher among women with a positive IPV screen compared with those without (77.3% vs. 25.0%, P<0.001). In the multivariate model, a positive IPV screen was related to a higher prevalence of low sexual function (aPR: 2.57; 95% CI: 2.04-3.25). Conversely, low sexual function was linked to a positive IPV screen (aPR: 4.67; 95% CI: 2.78-7.85). Spanish Roma ethnicity was also associated with IPV (aPR: 3.51; 95% CI: 2.14-5.74). CONCLUSIONS: Low sexual function and a positive IPV screen were statistically associated in this community-based sample of middle-aged women. A higher prevalence of IPV was observed among certain ethnic minorities. These associations persisted after adjustment for sociodemographic and clinical factors.
Menopause and large language models: not quite ready for mid-life.
Kransdorf LN
Menopause · 2026 May · PMID 41875260 · Publisher ↗
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Targeted literature review of concepts related to women's experiences and perceptions of vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause.
Bin Ng D, Burgess SM, Tsai CC … +3 more , Henze M, Chladek M, Hadi FA
Menopause · 2026 Apr · PMID 41874228 · Full text
IMPORTANCE AND OBJECTIVE: Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) due to menopause, consisting of hot flashes/flushes and night sweats, affect the majority of women aged 40-64 years around the world and impose a high burden on sleep, m...
IMPORTANCE AND OBJECTIVE: Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) due to menopause, consisting of hot flashes/flushes and night sweats, affect the majority of women aged 40-64 years around the world and impose a high burden on sleep, mood, concentration, energy, work, and sexual activity. Despite the high prevalence of VMS, however, diagnosis rates remain low. Although many patient-reported outcome tools can be used to assess VMS, to the best of our knowledge, few to none of these tools were designed to characterize how women experience VMS or to function as a self-assessment tool for individuals seeking diagnosis and treatment. The goal of this targeted literature review was to identify and characterize concepts relevant to individuals' experiences with and perceptions of VMS to inform the development of a culturally sensitive self-assessment tool. METHODS: Two searches of the existing literature were conducted: one in PubMed on key features and proximal impacts of VMS and another in Google Scholar on cultural issues and psychosocial perceptions related to menopause and VMS. Two conceptual models were developed based on the findings from these searches. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The first model highlights that, in addition to the core components of VMS, other features, such as appearing red/flushed, dizziness, and the subjective feeling of fever, and proximal impacts, such as sleep impairments, should be considered for inclusion in a self-assessment tool. The second model shows that a self-assessment tool for VMS should be linguistically and culturally sensitive to an individual's local context, which can vary within and between regions and even within and between countries in those regions. Further research is needed to better understand each area's unique histories, languages, and beliefs. Overall, current findings highlight an opportunity to develop a self-assessment tool that is both clinically relevant and culturally sensitive.
Migraine and the menopause transition.
Bernstein C
Menopause · 2026 Apr · PMID 41874227 · Full text
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Mediation analysis of adiposity and inflammation in the associations of Life's Crucial 9 and Life's Essential 8 with mortality among postmenopausal women.
Wei J, Liu Y
Menopause · 2026 Mar · PMID 41842829 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVE: Life's Essential 8 (LE8) and Life's Crucial 9 (LC9) summarize overall cardiovascular health. This study investigated the associations between LC9 and LE8 with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in postmeno...
OBJECTIVE: Life's Essential 8 (LE8) and Life's Crucial 9 (LC9) summarize overall cardiovascular health. This study investigated the associations between LC9 and LE8 with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in postmenopausal women and further assessed whether adiposity-related and inflammation-related indicators statistically mediated these associations. METHODS: Data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2018, with mortality follow-up through December 31, 2019. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality, and the secondary outcome was cardiovascular mortality. Survey-weighted Cox proportional hazards models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Nonlinear dose-response relationships were assessed using generalized additive models with penalized splines, and survival differences were visualized by Kaplan-Meier curves with log-rank tests. Stratified analyses were performed across demographic and clinical subgroups. Mediation analyses further quantified the indirect effects of adiposity-related indices (a body shape index [ABSI], weight-waist index [WWI]) and inflammation-related indicators (systemic inflammation response index [SIRI], red cell distribution width [RDW]). RESULTS: Among 7,842 postmenopausal women, there were 1,313 all-cause deaths and 395 cardiovascular deaths during follow-up. In Cox models, higher cardiovascular health scores were associated with lower mortality. For LE8, each 1-SD increase (14.4 points) was associated with lower all-cause mortality (HR=0.72, 95% CI=0.68-0.77) and cardiovascular mortality (HR=0.67, 95% CI=0.60-0.75). LC9 analyses were restricted to participants with nonmissing LC9 (n=7,496). For LC9, each 1-SD increase (14.0 points) was associated with lower all-cause mortality (HR=0.70, 95% CI=0.65-0.75) and cardiovascular mortality (HR=0.62, 95% CI=0.55-0.70). Categorized analyses showed graded associations, with lower mortality at higher score levels. In mediation analyses, adiposity-related and inflammation-related indicators explained a small proportion of these associations. For LE8, the proportion mediated was ∼5.4% (ABSI), 6.6% (WWI), 8.7% (SIRI), and 10.5% (RDW). For LC9, SIRI, and RDW-mediated ∼8.7% and 10.3%, respectively (all indirect effects P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We observed inverse associations between LE8 and LC9 scores and both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in postmenopausal women. Indicators of adiposity and systemic inflammation showed partial statistical mediation of these observed associations.
The role of menopause and hyperlipidemia as risk factors for calcific tendinitis of the shoulder: insights from a Taiwan Biobank study.
Lin CC, Nfor ON, Huang HC … +2 more , Hsu SY, Liaw YP
Menopause · 2026 Mar · PMID 41842827 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVE: We investigated the relationship between hyperlipidemia, menopause, and the risk of calcific tendinitis (CT) of the shoulder in female participants aged 30-70 in the Taiwan Biobank (TWB). METHODS: Our analysis...
OBJECTIVE: We investigated the relationship between hyperlipidemia, menopause, and the risk of calcific tendinitis (CT) of the shoulder in female participants aged 30-70 in the Taiwan Biobank (TWB). METHODS: Our analysis included 14,274 women, with 6,883 categorized as menopausal and 4,586 diagnosed with hyperlipidemia. We identified 244 women with CT of the shoulder. We employed logistic regression analyses to investigate the associations between menopause and hyperlipidemia with the risk of developing CT. The models controlled for several variables, including age, body mass index, education level, physical activity, smoking status, alcohol consumption, coffee and tea intake, diet, hormone therapy (HT), diabetes, and hypertension. RESULTS: Among the 244 women diagnosed with CT, a significant majority(186 [76.23%]) were postmenopausal, and 139 (56.95%) had hyperlipidemia. Logistic regression analysis revealed significant associations: hyperlipidemia increased the odds of CT (odds ratio [OR]=1.72, 95% CI: 1.27-2.33), while menopause presented an even higher risk (OR=2.37, 95% CI: 1.69-3.33). Stratified analyses indicated that women with hyperlipidemia who were not menopausal had an OR of 1.58 (95% CI: 0.85-2.94). Meanwhile, menopausal women without hyperlipidemia showed an OR of 2.29 (95% CI: 1.52-3.45). The highest risk was observed in women with both conditions, yielding an OR of 4.03 (95% CI: 2.67-6.07). CONCLUSION: Our findings underscore a significant association between hyperlipidemia, menopause, and the risk of CT of the shoulder in women within the Taiwan Biobank cohort.
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