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Open research questions in Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments

588 gap statements mined from Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 2,923 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

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What the literature leaves open

  • The MSK syndrome of menopause is highly prevalent yet under-recognised, and digital tools are increasingly positioned as scalable supports; mapping whether (and how directly) existing research captures MSK symptoms will clarify an important and currently uncharacterised gap.

    mHealth Applications in the Assessment of Musculoskeletal Pain in Menopausal Women: Protocol for a Scoping Review · 2026 · DOI

  • However, few studies have rigorously assessed laser efficacy in GSM, with most lacking control groups or randomization. Concerns about insufficient evidence have been raised by expert groups such as The International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD) and The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC).

    A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial Evaluating the Efficacy of Intravaginal and Extravaginal K-Laser Therapy as a Personalized Non-Hormonal Treatment for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause · 2026 · DOI

  • Neurochemical analyses were restricted to the amygdala; therefore, it remains unclear whether the effects of OXA and MET are specific to this region or reflect broader alterations across interconnected anxiety-related circuits.

    Metformin reverses oxandrolone-induced anxiety-like behavior and amygdalar neurochemical dysregulation in male rats · 2026 · DOI

  • In terms of health education, awareness campaigns and community-based programs should be developed to educate women about menopause, its potential mental health implications, and coping strategies. These initiatives can help destigmatize menopause and promote health literacy, encouraging women to seek timely medical and psychological support.

    Assessing the Relationship Between Depressive Symptoms and Menopausal Quality of Life Among Academic Women in Saudi Arabia · 2025 · DOI

  • The results of the second phase, aimed at evaluating the effect of additional laser treatments, indicated that adding three more laser sessions seemed to improve outcomes, with a major limitation being the absence of a sham comparator, and the potential bias caused by patients’ expectations after initially experiencing sham procedure.

    CO2 Laser Therapy for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause in Women with Breast Cancer: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial · 2025 · DOI

  • Future research should investigate long-term hormonal responses to combined HIIT and TRT protocols and their effects on menstrual and reproductive health, as well as metabolic outcomes.

    The Comparative Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training and Traditional Resistance Training on Hormonal Responses in Young Women: A 10-Week Intervention Study · 2025 · DOI

  • SERMs and nanocarriers may minimize off-target stimulation of hormone-sensitive tissues (such as breast and endometrium), potentially lowering risks of thromboembolism and hormone-dependent cancers, although long-term safety data for these technologies in dermatologic use remain limited.

    Hormonal Therapies in Cosmetic Dermatology: Mechanisms, Clinical Applications, and Future Perspectives · 2025 · DOI

  • So, the results may not be generalizable for those with greater CVD risk. This can be mitigated by limiting the dosage, length of time, and possibly the route and formulation of mHT that is administered, although randomized trials of these approaches are lacking.

    Long-term cognitive effects of menopausal hormone therapy: Findings from the KEEPS Continuation Study · 2024 · DOI

  • Scientifically, they highlight anxiety as an under-studied outcome and vasomotor-symptom-directed therapies as a mechanistically grounded avenue whose mood benefits now require confirmation in prospective and interventional studies.

    Vasomotor Symptoms and Their Association with Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in Peri- and Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies · 2026 · DOI

  • Although the clinical and functional relevance of these transcriptional changes remains uncertain, the findings support the possibility of tissue-specific transcriptional responsiveness to androgen exposure in mucosal tissues.

    Tissue-specific alterations in ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression following gender-affirming hormone therapy: a preliminary study · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should focus on assessing the long-term sustainability of its effects, its impact on histological and microbiological parameters, and direct comparisons with other available energy-based technologies.

    A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial Evaluating the Efficacy of Intravaginal and Extravaginal K-Laser Therapy as a Personalized Non-Hormonal Treatment for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause · 2026 · DOI

  • Research suggests that autistic people may experience menopause differently than non-autistic people, although explanatory mechanisms for this are under-investigated.

    Menopause Representations as Predictors of Health and Well-being During Menopause: A Comparison Study of Autistic and Non-Autistic People · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should explore barriers to social support among perimenopausal women in diverse cultural and geographical contexts, including urban and rural settings.

    Social Support and Its Influencing Factors Among Perimenopausal Women in Tianjin, China: A Community-Based Study · 2025 · DOI

  • While our findings show an elevated risk of diabetes during the premenopausal period and a decreased risk during the postmenopausal period, previous studies have reported conflicting results regarding the link between menopause and diabetes risk, leading to ambiguity in their relationship.

    Menopause and Diabetes Risk Along with Trajectory of β-Cell Function and Insulin Sensitivity: A Community-Based Cohort Study · 2025 · DOI

  • Primarily, it offers a comprehensive examination of the relationship between women’s mental health and their menopausal quality of life, an area that remains underexplored, particularly within the regional context.

    Assessing the Relationship Between Depressive Symptoms and Menopausal Quality of Life Among Academic Women in Saudi Arabia · 2025 · DOI

  • Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may influence SUA levels, though mechanisms and clinical implications remain underexplored.

    Hormone replacement therapy and serum uric acid in postmenopausal women: A cardiometabolic insight · 2025 · DOI

  • There are a limited number of studies describing the impact of the menstrual cycle and postmenopause on the skin barrier function, and existing research data are conflicting.

    Menopause, Menstrual Cycle, and Skin Barrier Function · 2025 · DOI

  • Further investigation is needed to elucidate health inequalities during and after menopause, yet our findings suggest that feelings of control and coherence may be important for well-being during menopause, highlighting the importance of appropriate information and support to help autistic individuals confidently navigate this life stage.

    Menopause Representations as Predictors of Health and Well-being During Menopause: A Comparison Study of Autistic and Non-Autistic People · 2026 · DOI

  • The longitudinal impact of chronic diseases on depressive symptom trajectories in postmenopausal women is poorly understood. The mediating role of sleep duration and cognitive function in the association between chronic diseases and depressive symptoms is not well established.

    Association of chronic diseases with depressive symptom trajectories in postmenopausal women: a population-based cohort study · 2026 · DOI

  • Whether circulating inflammatory proteins causally contribute to PAV pathogenesis remains unknown.

    Causal Effects of Circulating Inflammatory Proteins on Postmenopausal Atrophic Vaginitis in European Populations: A Mendelian Randomization Study with Transcriptomic Validation · 2026 · DOI

  • Despite extensive research on estrogen and its implications, there remains a gap in understanding the relationship between the duration of endogenous estrogen exposure (EEE) and all-cause mortality among women with overweight or obesity according to their metabolic health status.

    Endogenous Estrogen Exposure and All-Cause Mortality Among Women with Overweight or Obesity According to Metabolic Health Status: Insights from an 18-Year Prospective Cohort Study · 2026 · DOI

  • Sample sizes, populations, and confounder adjustment varied widely; residual confounding by prior depression, socioeconomic factors, smoking, comorbidity, sleep, and hormone-therapy use is likely, and the risk-of-bias appraisal, although conducted item by item, necessarily involved judgement in mapping two different appraisal instruments onto a single set of common domains.

    Vasomotor Symptoms and Their Association with Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in Peri- and Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies · 2026 · DOI

  • Escitalopram and desvenlafaxine had large effects, but the supporting evidence was sparse.

    Comparative efficacy and safety of nonhormonal prescription drugs for vasomotor symptoms in women with breast cancer: a systematic review and network meta-analysis · 2026 · DOI

  • Few studies have included older women with cardiovascular disease (CVD) when examining symptoms experienced during the menopause transition and current cognition.

    Symptoms Experienced During the Menopause Transition and Cognition in Older Women With Cardiovascular Disease: Secondary Analyses of the MindMoves Trial · 2026 · DOI

  • These findings argue against menopausal hormone therapy for liver cancer prevention and highlight subgroups warranting further study.

    Menopausal hormone therapy and primary liver cancer: long-term follow-up of the women’s health initiative randomized trials · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) Neurochemical analyses were restricted to the amygdala; therefore, it remains unclear whether the effects of OXA and MET are specific to this region or reflect broader alterations across interconnected anxiety-related circuits (“Metformin reverses oxandrolone-induced anxiety-like behavior and amygdalar…”, 2026); (2) Future research should focus on assessing the long-term sustainability of its effects, its impact on histological and microbiological parameters, and direct comparisons with other available energy-based technologies (“A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial Evaluating the Efficacy of Intravaginal and…”, 2026); (3) The mediating role of sleep duration and cognitive function in the association between chronic diseases and depressive symptoms is not well established (“Association of chronic diseases with depressive symptom trajectories in…”, 2026); (4) Whether circulating inflammatory proteins causally contribute to PAV pathogenesis remains unknown (“Causal Effects of Circulating Inflammatory Proteins on Postmenopausal Atrophic…”, 2026); (5) Future research should investigate long-term hormonal responses to combined HIIT and TRT protocols and their effects on menstrual and reproductive health, as well as metabolic outcomes (“The Comparative Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training and Traditional…”, 2025). 588 gap statements have been mined from Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 2,923 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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