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International Journal of Environmental... Apr 2020During the menopausal period, sexual dysfunction is associated with the development or worsening of psychological conditions, causing deterioration in women's mental...
During the menopausal period, sexual dysfunction is associated with the development or worsening of psychological conditions, causing deterioration in women's mental health and quality of life. This systematic review aims to investigate the effects of different exercise programs on sexual function and quality of sexual life related to menopausal symptoms. With this purpose, a systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Plus. A total of 1787 articles were identified in the initial search and 11 prospective studies (including 8 randomized controlled trials) were finally included. The most commonly recommended training programs are based on exercising pelvic floor muscles, as they seem to have the largest impact on sexual function. Mind-body disciplines also helped in managing menopausal symptoms. However, as far as the most traditional programs were concerned, aerobic exercises showed inconsistent results and resistance training did not seem to convey any benefits. Although positive effects have been found, evidence supporting physical exercise as a strategy to improve sexual function and quality of sexual life related to menopausal symptoms is limited, and further studies on this topic are needed.
Topics: Aged; Exercise; Female; Humans; Menopause; Middle Aged; Postmenopause; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Sexual Behavior
PubMed: 32295114
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17082680 -
Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health Nov 2021Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) occurs in approximately 50% of menopausal women but is both underrecognized and undertreated despite numerous treatment... (Review)
Review
Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) occurs in approximately 50% of menopausal women but is both underrecognized and undertreated despite numerous treatment options. Vaginal dryness, irritation, dyspareunia, urinary frequency, and urinary urgency are some of the more common symptoms that can have a negative effect on women's lives and relationships. Treatment options can include over-the-counter moisturizers and lubricants that can be composed of water or silicone or have an oil base. However, women and health care providers need be aware of the effects of excipients in these products so that the therapy does not cause vaginal irritation. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment options include vaginally administered estrogen products as well as dehydroepiandrosterone (prasterone) and the selective estrogen receptor modulator ospemifene. The prescription options have proven efficacy and safety and can be considered for use by women with a history of cancer following collaboration with the oncologist. Despite the FDA warning that recommends vaginal lasers not be used for vaginal rejuvenation, vaginal lasers have also been used as a treatment for GSM, but studies on their safety are limited. This article reviews GSM, including its impact, diagnosis, and treatment.
Topics: Humans; Menopause; United States
PubMed: 34464022
DOI: 10.1111/jmwh.13277 -
Lancet (London, England) Mar 2024Menopause eventually happens to all people with typically functioning ovaries, and almost one billion women worldwide are postmenopausal. Although the biology of typical... (Review)
Review
Menopause eventually happens to all people with typically functioning ovaries, and almost one billion women worldwide are postmenopausal. Although the biology of typical menopause is ubiquitous, the experience varies substantially. Factors contributing to the experience include not only individual factors, such as the nature and severity of symptoms, but also psychological, social, and contextual considerations, many of which are modifiable. In this first paper in the Lancet Series on menopause, we argue for a new approach that goes beyond the treatment of specific symptoms, to encompass a broad model to support women transitioning this life stage, using the model of empowerment. WHO defines empowerment as an active process of gaining knowledge, confidence, and self-determination to self-manage health and make informed decisions about care. Rather than focusing on menopause as an endocrine deficiency, we propose an empowerment model that recognises factors modifying the experience, in which the patient is an expert in their own condition and the health-care worker supports the patient to become an equal and active partner in managing their own care.
Topics: Humans; Female; Menopause; Empowerment
PubMed: 38458214
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02799-X -
Climacteric : the Journal of the... Dec 2020Vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes and/or night sweats) affect approximately 80% of women over the menopause transition and can affect quality of life, productivity, and... (Review)
Review
Vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes and/or night sweats) affect approximately 80% of women over the menopause transition and can affect quality of life, productivity, and relationships. Vasomotor symptoms are the main reason for seeking treatment during the menopausal transition. Although menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is effective for symptom management, the majority of symptomatic women do not take MHT. In this article, we review the evidence for non-hormonal treatments for vasomotor symptoms, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches, and provide a clinical algorithm for managing symptomatic women.
Topics: Algorithms; Clinical Decision-Making; Conservative Treatment; Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Menopause; Meta-Analysis as Topic; Middle Aged; Patient Selection; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Sweating; Vasomotor System
PubMed: 32696683
DOI: 10.1080/13697137.2020.1789093 -
Maturitas Dec 2023The huge impact of climate change on humankind is multidimensional, and includes direct and indirect challenges to the physical, psychological and socio-cultural... (Review)
Review
The huge impact of climate change on humankind is multidimensional, and includes direct and indirect challenges to the physical, psychological and socio-cultural wellbeing. Women may be more vulnerable to climate-sensitive diseases, but little attention has been paid to specific needs and challenges associated with the menopause transition. The increase in average and extreme temperatures may modulate the manifestation of vasomotor symptoms; in particular, environmental temperature and seasonality may affect hot flushes and night sweats. However, more research is needed to define the impact of climate-related factors among the determinants influencing the individual experience of menopause. In addition, increased exposure to environmental pollution and toxins may also have a role in the modulation of ovarian aging mechanisms, possibly influencing timing of menopause. Finally, both air pollution and menopause transition are associated with unfavorable modifications of cardio-metabolic, bone and cognitive health, and account should be taken of these in the evaluation of the individual woman's health vulnerabilities. Overall, the evidence reported in this narrative review supports the need for specific strategies aimed at reducing the burden of climate and environmental change on menopausal women. Healthcare providers should promote behavioral measures that reduce anthropogenic climate change and at the same time have a beneficial role on several domains of physical and psychological wellbeing. From this perspective, menopause represents a golden moment to implement virtuous behaviors that will benefit at the same time women's longevity and the planet.
Topics: Female; Humans; Menopause; Hot Flashes; Women's Health; Sweating
PubMed: 37634295
DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2023.107825 -
Maturitas Jul 2024The experience of menopause is not "one size fits all." Instead, biologic, physiologic, and sociocultural factors strongly affect women's experiences of menopause... (Review)
Review
The experience of menopause is not "one size fits all." Instead, biologic, physiologic, and sociocultural factors strongly affect women's experiences of menopause symptoms and the ways in which they would like to manage their care. By providing culturally sensitive and patient-centered care, clinicians may be able to improve menopause experiences for all of their patients. However, a literature review revealed a lack of information about culturally responsive care for menopause. The first objective of this review is to discuss the ways in which sociocultural identity influences menopause care-seeking and management. The second objective is to introduce a framework of culturally responsive care for menopause.
Topics: Humans; Female; Menopause; Culturally Competent Care; Patient-Centered Care; Patient Acceptance of Health Care
PubMed: 38663163
DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2024.107995 -
Maturitas Feb 2023Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease in women. Both traditional and sex-specific risk modifiers occurring from menarche to pregnancy to... (Review)
Review
Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease in women. Both traditional and sex-specific risk modifiers occurring from menarche to pregnancy to menopause modulate the risk of hypertension and adverse cardiovascular events. This review provides a narrative summary of risk and treatment of hypertension in women across the lifespan, from adolescence to the post-menopausal period, where each period represents a potential window for risk assessment, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment. Management of hypertension throughout a woman's life must be included in a holistic cardiovascular prevention approach for women in order to prevent future cardiovascular complications.
Topics: Pregnancy; Male; Female; Humans; Longevity; Hypertension; Menopause; Cardiovascular Diseases; Postmenopause; Risk Factors
PubMed: 36549261
DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2022.11.006 -
Journal of Neuroinflammation Jun 2024A significant decrease in estrogen levels puts menopausal women at high risk for major depression, which remains difficult to cure despite its relatively clear etiology.... (Review)
Review
A significant decrease in estrogen levels puts menopausal women at high risk for major depression, which remains difficult to cure despite its relatively clear etiology. With the discovery of abnormally elevated inflammation in menopausal depressed women, immune imbalance has become a novel focus in the study of menopausal depression. In this paper, we examined the characteristics and possible mechanisms of immune imbalance caused by decreased estrogen levels during menopause and found that estrogen deficiency disrupted immune homeostasis, especially the levels of inflammatory cytokines through the ERα/ERβ/GPER-associated NLRP3/NF-κB signaling pathways. We also analyzed the destruction of the blood-brain barrier, dysfunction of neurotransmitters, blockade of BDNF synthesis, and attenuation of neuroplasticity caused by inflammatory cytokine activity, and investigated estrogen-immuno-neuromodulation disorders in menopausal depression. Current research suggests that drugs targeting inflammatory cytokines and NLRP3/NF-κB signaling molecules are promising for restoring homeostasis of the estrogen-immuno-neuromodulation system and may play a positive role in the intervention and treatment of menopausal depression.
Topics: Humans; Female; Menopause; Estrogens; Animals; Depression; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; Signal Transduction; Cytokines
PubMed: 38898454
DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03152-1 -
Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics &... Nov 2023
Topics: Female; Humans; Menopause; Postmenopause; Uterine Diseases; Endometrium; Ultrasonography
PubMed: 38008495
DOI: 10.1016/j.tjog.2023.09.015 -
Best Practice & Research. Clinical... May 2022Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) affect 2 out of 3 women during menopause and are highly disruptive and intolerable. They exert a negative impact on a woman's physical and... (Review)
Review
Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) affect 2 out of 3 women during menopause and are highly disruptive and intolerable. They exert a negative impact on a woman's physical and mental well-being and are considered a high clinical priority requiring effective treatment. Although hormone therapy remains the gold-standard treatment for hot flushes, it is associated with several side effects and contraindications. Furthermore, alternative treatments for VMS are currently less efficacious and have limited availability; therefore, a new medication to treat VMS would benefit millions of women worldwide. Neurokinin 3 receptor (NK3R) antagonists have recently been developed as novel therapeutic agents for the amelioration of VMS through their action on NK3 receptors within the hypothalamus and consequent regulation of the thermoregulatory centre. So far, three NK3R antagonists have been studied in menopausal women, which have demonstrated significant reductions in VMS frequency and severity and have shown their ability to transform patients' quality of life.
Topics: Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Menopause; Quality of Life; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 34965909
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2021.10.010