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Open research questions in Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments

91 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 1,016 Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • Abstract Background The relationship between menopausal hormone therapy (HT) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) risk remains controversial, with inconsistent findings potentially driven by differences in hormonal formulations.

    Differential effects of hormone therapy formulations on Parkinson’s disease risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis · 2026 · DOI

  • Although differences between formulations were not statistically significant, these findings suggest that hormone composition may influence neurological outcomes and warrant further investigation into individualized HT strategies.

    Differential effects of hormone therapy formulations on Parkinson’s disease risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis · 2026 · DOI

  • Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) significantly impacts quality of life, yet the immediate cognitive landscape and lived experience of younger women remain under-researched.

    Cognition in younger women with premature ovarian insufficiency · 2026 · DOI

  • Despite this clinical significance, clinicalstudies specifically investigating the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis status in femalepatients with CS remain insufficient, highlighting the urgent need for thorough evaluation.

    A retrospective study of severity-dependent HPG Axis suppression by glucocorticoids in Chinese women with Cushing syndrome · 2026 · DOI

  • Perimenopausal women frequently experience complex and fluctuating symptoms, and the efficacy of HRT in alleviating emotional and psychological disturbances remains controversial (40).

    The efficacy and safety of Femoston combined with Baoqing granules for kidney Yin deficiency in perimenopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial · 2026 · DOI

  • Abstract Prasterone (dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA) is increasingly used in the treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), although its molecular effects on vaginal tissue remain insufficiently characterized.

    Short-term vaginal prasterone therapy induces steroid receptor modulation and extracellular matrix remodeling in human vaginal mucosa · 2026 · DOI

  • ObjectivePerimenopause is an under-recognized transition poorly measured by existing tools, which often overlook symptoms characteristic of this phase.

    Validation of the Perimenopause Symptom Scale (Peri-SS) for Digital Self-Assessment: Psychometric Evaluation Among U.S. Women Aged 35 to 59 years · 2026 · DOI

  • The present study has several limitations that should be acknowledged. First, the regulation of vascular β₁- and β₃- adrenoceptors was assessed at the mRNA level and was not complemented by direct protein-level quantification. Although the observed transcriptional changes closely paralleled the functional vascular responses, additional protein-based validation would further strengthen the mechanistic interpretation of the findings. However, reliable detection of vascular β-adrenoceptor proteins, particularly β₃-adrenoceptors, remains technically challenging due to limited antibody specificity and relatively low receptor abundance in vascular tissue. Second, detailed information regarding menopausal status was not consistently available for all female human tissue donors. Given the age range of the cohort, peri- or postmenopausal hormonal status may have influenced vascular β-adrenoceptor expression. Nevertheless, higher β₁- and β₃-adrenoceptor expression was consistently observed in vessels obtained from women across multiple vascular beds, supporting the presence of preserved sex-dependent differences in human vascular tissue. Author contributions K.R. performed experiments, acquired and analysed data.B.Z., C.H. and B.M. acquired experimental data.A.D. supervised the work and revised the manuscript.S.S. revised the manuscript.C.R., S.M.T. and K.M. provided human vascular tissue.I.K. conceived the study, supervised the work, analysed data and wrote the manuscript.All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.

    Oestrogen receptors regulate vascular β₁- and β₃-adrenoceptor expression and shape sex-specific adrenergic control of vascular tone · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies cardiovascular, metabolic, and cancerous pathologies associated with menopause with predominance of cervical cancer (14.4%), but detailed investigation of risk factors and prevention mechanisms for these conditions is lacking.

    Profil épidémiologique, clinique et morbidité associée à la ménopause au Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Gabriel TOURE de Bamako : étude transversale rétrospective sur 14 ans portant sur 6834 femmes · 2026 · DOI

  • Menopausal symptoms prevalence varies widely globally (74% in Europe to 22-63% in Asia), but the reasons for these geographical differences and their relationship to Mali's context remain unclear.

    Profil épidémiologique, clinique et morbidité associée à la ménopause au Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Gabriel TOURE de Bamako : étude transversale rétrospective sur 14 ans portant sur 6834 femmes · 2026 · DOI

  • This data note introduces potential users of the ALSPAC data to our algorithm and highlights key challenges when using longitudinal data to estimate menopause timing including irregular bleeding, missing data, and conflicting reports.

    Estimating age of menopause in mothers in the ALSPAC Study: A data note · 2025 · DOI

  • However, the current literature contains conflicting data on the impact of obesity on BMD: moderate excess body weight may have a protective effect on BMD loss, but obesity of II–III degree is significantly associated with an increased risk of osteoporotic fractures.

    Osteoporosis in postmenopausal women: pathogenetic relationships with coronary heart disease and obesity (literature review) · 2025 · DOI

  • Background: Fractional CO2 laser (FCL) has been gradually used in the management of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) in recent years, but the results remain uncertain.

    Efficacy of Fractional CO2 Laser Versus Intravaginal Estrogen for Controlling the Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) Especially Sexual Dysfunctions—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis · 2024 · DOI

  • IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Although it is consensual that premenopausal prophylactic bilateral oophorectomy should not be performed because it has harmful effects on women's health, the evidence regarding the effects of postmenopausal prophylactic bilateral oophorectomy is scarce and this procedure continues to be a regular practice.

    Steroid hormone levels in postmenopausal hysterectomised women with and without ovarian conservation: the continuous endocrine function of the ovaries · 2022 · DOI

  • Despite several existing studies on the age at natural menopause (ANM) and its related factors, epidemiologic data on the associations between chronic diseases and ANM are scarce with conflicting and inconclusive results.

    The association between chronic diseases and the age at natural menopause: a systematic review · 2021 · DOI

  • The effectiveness of DHEA in the premenopausal women remains unclear, while in postmenopausal women with coexisting estrogens deficiency is controversial.

    Supplementation of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in pre- and postmenopausal women — position statement of expert panel of Polish Menopause and Andropause Society · 2020 · DOI

  • In the context of thromboembolic complications association with the use of modern hormone containing medications, in particular combined hormonal contraceptives, genetically determined thrombophilia appears to be essential, but the possibility of their routine diagnostics to reduce risks is still not fully defined.

    Hemostasis and female sex hormones · 2018 · DOI

  • To date, C2 has not been studied precisely for its potential to have damaging effects on female reproductive system, especially the frequency of menstrual disturbances and the course of menopause.

    Health effect of chronic exposureto carbon disulfide (CS<sub>2</sub>)on women employed in viscose industry · 2017 · DOI

  • Women favored complementary/alternative therapies and were against using hormone therapy (HT) for symptom relief, although they felt they were insufficiently informed about HT.

    Women veterans and menopause: Knowledge and preferences · 2017 · DOI

  • CONCLUSIONS: The menopausal transition warrants attention as a period of vulnerability to MDD recurrence, while health factors and VMS should be considered important risk factors for first lifetime-onset of MDD during midlife.

    Risk factors for major depression during midlife among a community sample of women with and without prior major depression: are they the same or different? · 2014 · DOI

  • Despite the differences in the cardiovascular disease epidemiology, cardiovascular system physiology and pharmacokinetics of particular types of drugs between women and men, the data from the randomized clinical trials which would justify the use of particular antihypertensive drugs in postmenopausal woman are still lacking.

    Hipoestrogenemia pomenopauzalna a rozwój nadciśnienia tętniczego u kobiet po menopauzie · 2013

  • Derivatives of estrogens and gestagens applied in combined oral contraceptives (COC) reduce the production of endogenous sex steroids, but their effect on autonomic nervous system remains unknown.

    Relations between combined oral contraceptive therapy and indices of autonomic balance (baroreflex sensitivity and heart rate variability) in young healthy women · 2013 · DOI

  • Few studies have been published on the effects of recent OC use on menstrual cycle parameters; none have examined characteristics of the menstrual flow or the quality of cervical mucus.

    Characteristics of the Menstrual Cycle After Discontinuation of Oral Contraceptives · 2011 · DOI

  • Therefore, there is insufficient evidence to recommend the use of phytoestrogens in place of traditional ERT, or to make recommendations to women about specific phytoestrogen products.

    A Review of the Evidence for the Use of Phytoestrogens as a Replacement for Traditional Estrogen Replacement Therapy · 2001 · DOI

  • This article provides a review of what is currently known about the epidemiology of hysterectomy, oophorectomy, and HRT use and identifies gaps in knowledge about women's decision making, with a special focus on ethnic variations and cultural influences, issues addressed by the Ethnicity, Needs, and Decisions of Women (ENDOW) project.

    Overview of Women's Decision Making Regarding Elective Hysterectomy, Oophorectomy, and Hormone Replacement Therapy · 2000 · DOI

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91 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 1,016 Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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