Symptoms In Postmenopausal Women Research Articles

Determining the Prevalence and Severity of Menopausal Symptoms in Post-Menopausal Women of Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, India, using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS)

Background: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of menopausal symptoms among women in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, India, to better comprehend the specific challenges faced by rural women during this transitional phase. Methods: Post-menopausal women who visited the Rural Health and Training Center in Eluru between September-November 2021 and had one year of amenorrhea were included. A face-to-face interview administered a questionnaire to collect socio-demographic details and the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) which contained 11 questions using a 4-point Likert scale. Microsoft Excel and SPSS-20, with one-way ANOVA test were used for data and statistical analysis. Results: A total of 100 respondents were included, aged between 45-60 years. Majority of the respondents (37%) were aged 45-50 years and were unskilled workers (53%) with a monthly income falling under the upper middle-class category (53%). Additionally, 61% belonged to nuclear families. Using the MRS, joint and muscle pains were the most prevalent symptoms (82%), followed by sleep problems (64%) and anxiety (57%). Heat discomfort was reported least frequently (25%). Age groups and symptom severity were found to be significantly associated, indicating that women between 45-50 years were more likely to experience mild-severe symptoms. Conclusion: This study identified a notable prevalence of menopausal symptoms among women in Eluru; however, limitations included the limited sample size and geographic scope. Retrospective data collection might have introduced recall bias. The study highlights the need for increased awareness and education on menopause. Community-based programs and health centers should be established to address these needs.

Features, measurements, determinants, treatments, and outcomes of musculoskeletal symptoms in postmenopausal women: A scoping review

BackgroundThe literature lacks a consistent review of musculoskeletal symptoms in postmenopausal women. AimTo identify features, measurements, determinants, treatments, and outcomes of musculoskeletal symptoms in postmenopausal women. MethodA scoping review was completed using six databases: Embase, Medline, Cochrane, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus up to December 2022. Sixty-three articles were identified. ResultsMusculoskeletal symptoms in postmenopausal women include somatic symptoms of non-specific origin, upper and lower limb symptoms, spinal pain, and decline in physical performance. Measurements were categorized into four groups: musculoskeletal symptoms for menopause, general musculoskeletal symptoms, menopause-specific quality of life, and general quality of life questionnaires. The determinants were grouped into four themes: demographics, physical determinants, psychosocial determinants, and lifestyle. Pharmacological interventions, supplementation options, and exercise regimens exist for postmenopausal women with musculoskeletal symptoms. ConclusionA comprehensive policy is needed to address musculoskeletal symptoms in postmenopausal women, promoting diverse treatments for improved quality of life.

Correlation between Insulin Resistance with severity of Vasomotor symptoms in Postmenopausal Women

Correlation between Insulin Resistance with severity of Vasomotor symptoms in Postmenopausal Women

Efficacy and safety of fezolinetant for vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Vasomotor symptoms (VMS), such as hot flashes and night sweats, are highly prevalent and burdensome for women experiencing menopausal transition. Fezolinetant, a selective neurokinin 3 receptor (NK3R) antagonist, is a potential therapeutic option for mitigating VMS. Our aim is to assess the efficacy and evaluate the safety profile of fezolinetant compared with placebo in post-menopausal women suffering from VMS, by pooling all the relevant data and reflecting the most current evidence. An extensive literature search was performed in the PubMed, Medline and Cochrane Library databases from inception until June 2023 to identify relevant trials. Mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for continuous outcomes. Risk ratios (RRs) were calculated for dichotomous outcomes. All statistical analyses were performed using R Statistical Software. A total of six randomized controlled trials were added. For the frequency of daily VMS, the combined pooled result favored the fezolinetant group over placebo (MD -2.38, 95% CI -2.64 to -2.12; P < 0.001, I2 = 0%). For the severity of daily VMS, fezolinetant was again found to be superior to the placebo group (MD -0.40, 95% CI -0.51 to -0.29; P < 0.001, I2 = 70%). Fezolinetant (120 mg) consistently demonstrated a significant reduction in the severity of daily moderate/severe VMS compared with other doses at both 4 and 12 weeks. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS), PROMIS the Sleep Disturbance Short Form 8b and Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQoL) scores indicated significant improvement with fezolinetant. No significant difference in efficacy of fezolinetant at 4 and 12 weeks were observed in any outcome. As for safety, no significant differences in the treatment emergent adverse events at 12 weeks were found between fezolinetant and placebo. Our study significantly favors fezolinetant over placebo regarding the primary efficacy outcomes of daily moderate to severe VMS frequency and severity, including PROs, while both the groups are comparable in terms of treatment emergent adverse events. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Detection of endometrial cancer in cervico-vaginal fluid and blood plasma: leveraging proteomics and machine learning for biomarker discovery

The anatomical continuity between the uterine cavity and the lower genital tract allows for the exploitation of uterine-derived biomaterial in cervico-vaginal fluid for endometrial cancer detection based on non-invasive sampling methodologies. Plasma is an attractive biofluid for cancer detection due to its simplicity and ease of collection. In this biomarker discovery study, we aimed to identify proteomic signatures that accurately discriminate endometrial cancer from controls in cervico-vaginal fluid and blood plasma. Blood plasma and Delphi Screener-collected cervico-vaginal fluid samples were acquired from symptomatic post-menopausal women with (n=53) and without (n=65) endometrial cancer. Digitised proteomic maps were derived for each sample using sequential window acquisition of all theoretical mass spectra (SWATH-MS). Machine learning was employed to identify the most discriminatory proteins. The best diagnostic model was determined based on accuracy and model parsimony. A protein signature derived from cervico-vaginal fluid more accurately discriminated cancer from control samples than one derived from plasma. A 5-biomarker panel of cervico-vaginal fluid derived proteins (HPT, LG3BP, FGA, LY6D and IGHM) predicted endometrial cancer with an AUC of 0.95 (0.91-0.98), sensitivity of 91% (83%-98%), and specificity of 86% (78%-95%). By contrast, a 3-marker panel of plasma proteins (APOD, PSMA7 and HPT) predicted endometrial cancer with an AUC of 0.87 (0.81-0.93), sensitivity of 75% (64%-86%), and specificity of 84% (75%-93%). The parsimonious model AUC values for detection of stage I endometrial cancer in cervico-vaginal fluid and blood plasma were 0.92 (0.87-0.97) and 0.88 (0.82-0.95) respectively. Here, we leveraged the natural shed of endometrial tumours to potentially develop an innovative approach to endometrial cancer detection. We show proof of principle that endometrial cancers secrete unique protein signatures that can enable cancer detection via cervico-vaginal fluid assays. Confirmation in a larger independent cohort is warranted. Cancer Research UK, Blood Cancer UK, National Institute for Health Research.

(273) Influences of Oral Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) Administration on Hormonal Profile, Menopausal Clinical Symptoms and Sexual Function in Early Postmenopausal Symptomatic Women

Abstract Introduction Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate (DHEAs) are steroid hormones secreted by the adrenal glands. The aging process is associated with decreased levels of DHEA and DHEAs, which are the initial causes of many age-related changes. Objective We aimed to evaluate the effects of oral administration of DHEA (50mg/day) on hormonal profile, menopausal clinical symptoms and sexual function in early postmenopausal symptomatic Caucasian women at baseline and after 2, 4 and 6 months of treatment. Methods For our prospective clinical trial, 42 symptomatic early postmenopausal women (50–55±3.5 years) were selected. Participants were divided into two groups. The study group (n-22) received oral DHEA 50mg/day for 6 months and the control group (n-20) received placebo. Serum levels of DHEA, DHEAs, androstenedione (A4), allopregnanolone (3α,5α- THP), progesterone (P4), 17OH progesterone (17OHP), cortisol, testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), SHBG, LH, FSH and β-Endorphin were determined at baseline and after 2, 4 and 6 months of treatment. The results of the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and the McCoy Female Sexuality Questionnaire (MFSQ) were evaluated before and after the treatment. Results During the treatment period in the study group, a progressive increase in serum levels of DHEA, DHEAs, A4, T, DHT, E2, E1, 3α,5α-THP and β-Endorphin were observed. P4 and 17OHP levels showed only a slight increase. By the 4th month of treatment and final data, a decrease in cortisol levels was observed. LH and FSH levels gradually decreased. SHBG levels remained constant. After 6 months of treatment, assessing the results of the MRS in the DHEA group showed a progressive improvement of menopausal symptoms. The results of the McCoy questionnaire were also improved in the study group. Conclusions DHEA administration had a significant effect on certain endocrine parameters in early postmenopausal symptomatic Caucasian women, was associated with improvements of menopausal physical symptoms, sexual function and psycho-emotional parameters. Our findings support the hypothesis that administration of DHEA in symptomatic postmenopausal women restores both androgenic and estrogenic milieu and reduces most of the clinical symptoms caused by the changes of these environments during postmenopausal period. On this basis we can assume, that DHEA may be considered as a potentially effective medication for MHT. However, conducting further, more specific clinical trials are needed. Disclosure No.

The Effect of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training on Health-Related Quality of Life in Postmenopausal Women With Genitourinary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Genitourinary syndrome is commonly reported in postmenopausal women. Kegel's exercise is a noninvasive therapy that improves pelvic floor muscle parameters. However, the effect of Kegel's exercise on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in postmenopausal women with genitourinary syndrome has not been synthesized or shown. This study was designed to systematically review and analyze the previous literature to determine whether Kegel's exercise enhances HRQoL in postmenopausal women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted, and six databases were searched, including Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus, from their dates of inception to November 2021. Eligible studies evaluated the effects of Kegel's exercise on HRQoL in postmenopausal women with urinary, sexual, or genital symptoms. Review Manager software was used to perform the meta-analysis using a random-effects model. Chi-square and I2 tests were used to evaluate heterogeneity among the studies. Meta-analysis was performed based on the symptoms (i.e., urinary, sexual, and genital) identified in the quality-of-life questionnaires. This systematic review covered five studies with 268 participants. The research appraisal found most of these studies had a low risk of bias. The intervention periods ranged from 4 to 12 weeks. Compared with non-Kegel's exercise or regular activity, Kegel's exercise was found to significantly improve HRQoL-related urinary symptoms (three studies, standardized mean difference = -0.95, 95% CI [-1.35, -0.54], I2 = 0%). However, the effect of this exercise on HRQoL-related sexual symptoms did not differ from non-Kegel's exercise or regular activity (two studies, standardized mean difference = 1.11, 95% CI [-0.25, 2.47], I2 = 94%). None of the covered studies examined the effect of Kegel's exercise on HRQoL-related genital symptoms. Kegel's exercise is an effective intervention for improving HRQoL-related urinary symptoms in postmenopausal women. However, there remains insufficient evidence to assess the effectiveness of Kegel's exercise on HRQoL-related genital symptoms in this population. The results support using Kegel's exercise as a useful intervention to manage urinary symptoms in postmenopausal women.

Does hormone therapy exacerbate other venous thromboembolism risk factors?

Postmenopausal symptoms in women at higher risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) due to comorbidities are often undertreated because of concerns that hormone therapy (HT) may increase VTE risk; however, it is unclear how much HT impacts risk of VTE when compared with other risk factors. This is a case-control study in a commercial claims database from 2007 to 2019. Women aged 50 to 64 years (n = 223,949) were classified as cases if they had an International Classification of Diseases code indicating an acute VTE plus a filled prescription for an anticoagulant, placement of intravascular vena cava filter, or death within 30 days of diagnosis. Controls were matched 10:1 to each case by index date and age. Risk factors and comorbidities present within the year before index were examined. Exposure was defined as a HT prescription within 60 days before index. There were 20,359 VTE cases and 203,590 matched controls. A conditional logistic regression indicated that the greatest risks for VTE were from metastatic cancer (odds ratio [OR], 13.66; 95% CI, 12.64-14.75), hospitalization/surgery (OR, 8.51; 95% CI, 8.09-8.96), trauma (OR, 3.52; 95% CI, 3.32-3.73), comorbidity burden (OR, 3.51; 95% CI, 3.34-3.69), history of hypercoagulable condition (OR, 3.10; 95% CI, 2.87-3.36), and varicose veins (OR, 2.87; 95% CI, 2.56-3.22). Regarding hormone exposure, we observed ORs of 1.51 (95% CI, 1.43-1.60) for any recent hormone exposure; 1.13 (95% CI, 1.04-1.23; number needed to harm, 4,274) for unopposed estrogen menopausal HT; 1.23 (95% CI, 1.10-1.38; number needed to harm, 2,440) for combined menopausal HT; and 5.22 (95% CI, 4.67-5.84) for combined hormonal contraceptives compared with no recent HT exposure. Hormone therapy exposure did not appear to adversely influence other risk factors, and exposure generally played a minor role in VTE risk. Contraceptives, however, were a strong risk factor.

Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors and Menopausal Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women: A Cross-sectional Study

Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors and Menopausal Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women: A Cross-sectional Study

Efficacy and safety of fezolinetant, a neurokinin-3 antagonist, in treating vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Menopause causes a variety of symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. While menopausal hormonal therapy has been used for managing postmenopausal vasomotor symptoms (VMS) for quite a while, it has a considerably poor safety profile. To review and analyze existing data to evaluate the efficacy of the neurokinin-3 antagonist, fezolinetant, in treating postmenopausal VMS and to assess its safety profile. A thorough literature search was performed on PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar in compliance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis 2020, to find publications on the efficacy of fezolinetant for postmenopausal VMS. Changes in the frequency and severity scores of moderate/severe VMS and changes in the Hot Flash-Related Daily Interference Scale (HFRDIS), Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS), and Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQoL) were the efficacy outcomes. Adverse events, drug-related treatment-emergent adverse effects (TEAEs), drug-related dropouts, hepatotoxicity, endometrial hyperplasia or tumor, and uterine bleeding were all safety outcomes. We used Review Manager 5.4 for pooling risk ratios (RRs) and mean differences (MDs) for dichotomous and continuous outcomes, respectively. A P value of < .05 was considered significant. There was a significant reduction in mean daily VMS frequency at weeks 4 and 12 (MD, -2.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], -2.85 to -1.87; P < .00001, for week 12) and also a significant decrease in VMS severity scores in the treatment group. Furthermore, improvements in MENQoL, HFRDIS, and GCS scores were observed. There was no significant difference in adverse events while drug-related TEAEs (RR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.90-1.63; P = .21) showed a slight increase with fezolinetant. Drug-related dropouts were again similar across the 2 groups. Uterine bleeding had a lower incidence while endometrial events and hepatotoxicity showed a statistically insignificant, increasing trend in the fezolinetant group. Fezolinetant can be a treatment option for postmenopausal VMS but warns of a risk increase in endometrial hyperplasia or tumors. The heterogeneity in the data being analyzed, short follow-up period, and small sample size in most of the included randomized controlled trials were the greatest limitations, which must be considered in further research and safety profile exploration.

Vaginal laser therapy for urogenital symptoms in postmenopausal women and breast cancer survivors

Introduction: Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is common after natural menopause as well as in women with induced menopause due to endocrine therapy and/or oophorectomy following breast cancer. Vaginal laser therapy is a nonhormonal treatment option that appears to alleviate GSM symptoms in natural menopause; however, women with induced menopause may respond differently. The aim of this study was thus to evaluate the efficacy and safety of laser treatment on GSM in postmenopausal women and breast cancer survivors. Methods: A total of 34 women were enrolled in the study, each completing three treatments at monthly intervals. After each treatment, sexual function was assessed with PISQ-12, urinary incontinence and overactive bladder symptoms were measured using ICIQ-UI SF and ICIQ-OAB, and the improvement of urinary incontinence was measured using PGI-I and PGI-S. Results: At the time of follow-up, one year after the start of treatment the total PISQ-12 score had significantly increased in both groups compared to baseline (33 to 35.5, difference 2.5, 95% CI: 0.9-4.3). As assessed by ICIQ-UI SF scores, vaginal laser therapy also improved urinary incontinence from 5.3 at baseline to 3.4 at one-year follow-up (difference 1.9, 95% CI:0.4-3.1) for the total group. Improved urgency score from 3.1 at baseline to 2.5 at one-year follow-up (difference 0.7, 95% CI:0.02-1.5) and less leakage after urgency 3.1 at baseline to 2.8 at one-year follow-up (difference 0.8, 95% CI:0.05-1.5) were also reported. No complications were observed. Conclusion: Vaginal laser therapy appears to be safe and may reduce GSM symptoms in postmenopausal women and breast cancer survivors. Separate randomized controlled studies are needed.

Treatment with a tissue-selective oestrogen complex does not affect disease pathology but reduces pre-BI cells in lupus-prone mice

Objective Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) is an autoimmune disease characterized by B-cell dysfunction, production of autoantibodies, and immune complex formation. Lupus is overrepresented in females, indicating that sex hormones play a role in the pathophysiology. Treatment with a tissue-selective oestrogen complex (TSEC) containing conjugated oestrogens and the selective oestrogen receptor modulator bazedoxifene (BZA) protects against postmenopausal vasomotor symptoms and osteoporosis, but its impact on organ damage in lupus is not fully understood. Method We used ovariectomized MRL/lpr mice, treated with two different physiological doses of 17β-oestradiol-3-benzoate (E2), BZA, or TSEC (E2 plus BZA), to assess early and late B-cell development and to determine histological disease manifestations in the kidneys and salivary glands. Results TSEC treatment reduced the frequency of the pre-BI population in bone marrow to levels equivalent to treatment with physiological doses of E2 alone but did not affect any of the other examined B-cell populations. Our earlier studies indicated that TSEC treatment did not aggravate disease development in ovariectomized MRL/lpr mice, while protecting against trabecular bone loss. Here, we follow up on our previous study and show that neither ovariectomy alone nor TSEC treatment of ovariectomized MRL/lpr mice influenced perivascular lymphocyte infiltration to the kidneys or salivary glands. Conclusion TSEC does not aggravate a mouse model of lupus, when given in doses that protect against postmenopausal lupus-associated bone loss. This indicates that further investigations into TSEC as a treatment for osteoporosis or vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women with SLE are warranted.

Physical Domain of Quality of Life in Premenopause and Post Menopause Women in Central of Java

Abstract. Background: Premenopause and menopause would affect changes in a woman's body. Physical changes during premenopause and menopause would affect a woman's quality of life. Physical changes also caused physical symptoms that were very disturbing in daily activities. This study analyzes the factors that influence physical symptoms on the quality of life of premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Methods: This research method was a descriptive study with a cross sectional study approach. This research was conducted in Central Java province from March to December 2022. The population in this study were premenopausal and postmenopausal women in Central Java. The sampling technique was carried out using the clustered random sampling method. Respondents to this study were taken from 4 districts from 4 corners of Central Java province, namely Kudus Regency, Sukoharjo Regency, Tegal Regency and Semarang Regency. Each district taken 25 respondents. Respondents' quality of life was measured using the Menopause Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire. This study was analyzed using chi square. Results: education, religion, occupation, age at menarche, parity, income, history of illness, current activity, history of sexual intercourse, frequency of sexual intercourse significantly influence the physical domain of quality of life of postmenopausal women with a p-value 0.005. Age, education, occupation, age at menarche, marital status, parity, income, medical history, current activity, history of sexual intercourse, frequency of sexual intercourse significantly influence the physical domain of quality of life of premenopausal women with a p-value 0.005. Conclusion: The physical domain of quality of life for postmenopausal and premenopausal women is influenced by the same factors, namely education, occupation, age at menarche, parity, income, medical history, current activity, history of sexual intercourse, and frequency of sexual intercourse. Physical symptoms in postmenopausal women are in the mild category, while premenopausal women have severe physical symptoms

Treatment of urge incontinence in postmenopausal women: A systematic review.

Urinary incontinence and other urinary symptoms tend to be frequent at menopause because of hormonal modifications and aging. Urinary symptoms are associated with the genitourinary syndrome of menopause which is characterized by physical changes of the vulva, vagina and lower urinary tract. The treatment strategies for postmenopausal urinary incontinence are various and may include estrogens, anticholinergics, and pelvic floor muscle training. A comparison of these treatments is difficult due to the heterogeneity of adopted protocols. We systematically reviewed the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on treatment of postmenopausal women with urge incontinence. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis by searching PubMed and EMBASE databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting results of treatments for postmenopausal urinary urge incontinence. Odds ratios for improvement of urinary incontinence were calculated using random effect Mantel-Haenszel statistics. Out of 248 records retrieved, 35 eligible RCTs were assessed for risk of bias and included in the meta-analysis. Compared with placebo, systemic estrogens were associated with decreased odds of improving urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women (OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.61-0.91, 7 series, 17132 participants, Z = 2.89, P = 0.004, I2 = 72%). In most studies, no significant improvement in urinary symptoms was observed in patients treated with local estrogens, although they showed to be helpful in improving vaginal symptoms. Vitamin D, phytoestrogens and estrogen modulators were not effective in improving symptoms of incontinence and other symptoms of genitourinary menopause syndrome or yielded contradictory results. A randomized controlled trial demonstrated that oxybutynin was significantly better than placebo at improving postmenopausal urgency and urge incontinence. The combination of anticholinergics with local estrogens has not been shown to be more effective than anticholinergics alone in improving urinary incontinence symptoms in postmenopausal women. Physical therapy showed an overall positive outcome on postmenopausal urinary incontinence symptoms, although such evidence should be further validated in the frame of quality RCTs. The evidence for effective treatment of postmenopausal urinary incontinence is still lacking. Welldesigned large studies having subjective and objective improvement primary endpoints in postmenopausal urinary incontinence are needed. At present, a combination of different treatments tailored to the characteristics of the individual patient can be suggested.

Relationships between the vaginal microbiota and genitourinary syndrome of menopause symptoms in postmenopausal women: the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation.

To describe vaginal microbiota classified by community state types (CST) in a diverse cohort of postmenopausal women and evaluate relationships among genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) symptoms (vaginal dryness, vulvovaginal irritation, sexual pain, dysuria, urinary urgency), CSTs, estrogen, vaginal maturation index (VMI), and vaginal pH. In the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, 1,320 women aged 60.4 to 72.5 years self-collected (2015-2017) vaginal samples analyzed for microbiota composition and structure (CSTs) using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, VMI, and pH. GSM symptoms were collected with self-administered questionnaires; interviewers elicited estrogen use and measured body mass index. Serum E2 and E1 were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. We analyzed data using Pearson χ2 tests, analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and binomial logistic regression. The most frequently occurring CST was low Lactobacillus species IV-C (49.8%); 36.4% of women had CSTs dominated by Lactobacillus species. More than half of the women with vaginal atrophy biomarkers (VMI <50 and pH >5) had CST IV-C0, whereas women using estrogen or with higher E1 and E2 levels had a higher prevalence of Lactobacillus crispatus-dominated CST I (P values < 0.001). Sexual pain was associated with atrophy biomarkers and independently associated with Streptococcus species-dominated CST IV-C1 (odds ratio, 2.26; 95% confidence intervals, 1.20-4.23). For all other GSM symptoms, we found no consistent associations with E1 or E2 levels, atrophy biomarkers, or any CST. Although close relationships exist among estrogen, CSTs, VMI, and pH, sexual pain was the only GSM symptom associated with the structure of vaginal microbiota and atrophy biomarkers.

Use of Fermented Red Clover Isoflavones in the Treatment of Overactive Bladder in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Postmenopausal women are at risk of developing an overactive bladder (OAB). Conventional vaginal estrogen has shown promise for symptom relief. Isoflavones have proven effective as an alternative to estrogen treatment against menopause-related symptoms. However, its effect on OAB symptoms has not been studied. This study investigates if fermented red clover isoflavones reduce OAB symptoms in postmenopausal women. In this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, women were administered red clover extract (RCE) or a placebo twice daily for three months. Women filled out the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Overactive Bladder (ICIQ-OAB) and Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF), together with a fluid intake and voiding diary. A total of 33 women (16 in the RCE group and 17 in the placebo group) were included in the analysis. Baseline demographics and OAB characteristics were comparable across groups. Intake of RCE did not lead to significant relief in most urinary bladder symptom measures, although a significant reduction in the bother of urinary urgency (p = 0.033) and a tendency towards a decreased ICIQ-OAB score were observed (p = 0.056). In contrast, the placebo exhibited a significant decrease in the ICIQ-OAB score (p = 0.021) and in some diary outcomes. We found that an intake of isoflavones did not relieve OAB symptoms in postmenopausal women.

Assessment of effect of menopause on oral health and its awareness in population visiting dental OPD: a hospital-based study

Background: Menopause is a normal mechanism which takes part in every woman’s life. However, the awareness regarding menopause has to be highlighted effectively. Aim of this study was to assess the incidence and frequency of oral symptoms in postmenopausal women as well as to assess the level of awareness of menopause in women. Methods: A hospital-based study using a 60-item questionnaire was conducted on postmenopausal women with age range of 35-70 years for a period of three months. Statistical analyses were performed. Results on continuous measurements were presented on Mean±SD. Descriptive statistics with frequency and percentage were computed. Results: A total of 650 responses were received. In the present study, the mean age of menopause was 54 years. The most prevalent general symptoms reported were tiredness (89.8%), joint pains (89.7%) and irritability (76.5%). The most common oral manifestations of menopause were dryness of mouth (57.1%), altered taste (26.3%) and cracked corners of mouth (25.8%). About 39.8% of postmenopausal women had poor KAP score followed by 34.6% who had an average score while 18.3% had a good score and only 7.2% had scored excellent. Conclusions: Our study showed that the occurrence of classical menopausal symptoms of sweating and hot flushes was lesser in comparison to previous studies on Asian women. The increased incidence of dry mouth could lead to a rise in oral diseases. Moreover, a majority of postmenopausal women had a poor KAP score which showed that the awareness towards menopause needs to be increased.

The relation of insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea on sexual function and climacteric symptoms in postmenopausal women

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects of insomnia combined with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on sexual function and climacteric symptoms in postmenopausal women. MethodsOur sample comprised 47 postmenopausal women distributed into 3 groups: 1) insomnia group, 2) OSA group, and 3) OSA + insomnia group. All participants completed the following questionnaires: the Insomnia Severity Index, the Female Sexual Function Index, and the Blatt-Kupperman menopausal index. Of the 47 participants, 34 women undergone polysomnography. The 3 groups were compared in respect of climacteric symptoms, sexual function score, and sleep. ResultsOur results showed that 85.1% of the postmenopausal women were classified with insomnia, 46.8% were diagnosed with OSA, and 82.9% had low sexual function. All groups had sleep efficiency of < 80%, wake after sleep onset of > 65 min, and a total sleep time of < 6 h, indicating poor sleep quality. There were no statistically significant differences among the groups in all sexual domains (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain). According to climacteric symptoms, the group of OSA + insomnia reported more climacteric symptoms when compared to OSA group. ConclusionsIn our sample, the presence of insomnia and OSA associated with postmenopause revealed a low score for sexual function. Climacteric symptoms were higher in the groups with insomnia, and the association with low sexual function can lead to worsening of clinical condition. This study emphasizes the importance to identify the sleep disorders that postmenopausal women may present and to consider the possible effects they may have in sexual dysfunction.

Changes in Food Consumption in Postmenopausal Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study.

Studying the dietary habits and symptoms of postmenopausal women during situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic is important to mitigate long-term post-pandemic health problems. We compared the menopausal symptoms and food consumption in postmenopausal women before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A longitudinal survey was conducted on postmenopausal Brazilian women between 2018 and 2021. The Kupperman-Blatt Menopausal Index, Women's Health Questionnaire, and 24 h food recall were used. Of 274 women, 78 (28.5%) participated in the study during the COVID-19 pandemic. The intensity of the symptoms was lower during the pandemic than during the previous period (p < 0.05). Energy and processed food consumption were lower during the pandemic than before (p = 0.003 and p = 0.003, respectively). Milk and plain yogurt consumption were also lower (p = 0.043), while the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and sweet foods was higher (p = 0.007 and p = 0.001, respectively) during the pandemic. There was also a decrease in the consumption of proteins and lipids (p = 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively). In conclusion, we found that postmenopausal women consumed sweet foods and sugar-sweetened beverages in higher quantities and had a lower consumption of milk and plain yogurt and processed foods during the pandemic than during the pre-pandemic period. Furthermore, decreases in energy and macronutrient consumption were observed.

Evaluation and treatment of vulvovaginal itching in postmenopausal women.

Vulvovaginal itching, a commonly reported symptom in postmenopausal women, may be because of the genitourinary syndrome of menopause but has a broad differential including dermatologic, infectious, and autoimmune causes. Comprehensive evaluation is important to avoid inappropriate treatments that may delay the correct diagnosis. In many cases, no clear cause can be identified, and the goal of management is simply to control symptoms.