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Monday, June 22, 2026

Menopausal women taking hormones more likely to have overall healthier lifestyles

New large-scale study identifies patterns of dietary intake, physical activity, and sleep across menopause and hormone therapy groups

The Menopause Society

CLEVELAND, Ohio (June 17, 2026)—Menopause is associated with a number of adverse health effects, some of which can be mitigated by an array of modifiable health behaviors (MHBs), including diet, exercise, and sleep duration. A new study sought to determine whether menopause and hormone therapy status had any association with MHBs. Initial results suggest that a link exists. Results of the study are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The Menopause Society.

During the menopause transition, there is a significant increase in the risk of chronic diseases, along with an increased incidence of such bothersome symptoms as hot flashes and urogenital problems. The use of hormone therapy often serves as a treatment option to manage these menopause symptoms. However, whether hormone therapy affects health outcomes and chronic disease risk directly or indirectly through altered health behaviors is unclear.

Research to date around this topic has produced mixed results, with some research suggesting that postmenopausal women focus more on a healthy lifestyle. A first-of-its-kind cross-sectional analysis involving more than 10,000 women sought to identify to what extent menopause status and the use of hormones was linked with a healthy lifestyle as defined by diet, physical activity, and sleep duration.

The research showed that postmenopausal women who never used hormone therapy reported a lower intake of fruit and vegetables. Never-users of hormone therapy were 19% less likely to meet strength-based activity guidelines. Sleep duration was also shorter in postmenopausal women who had never used hormone therapy. The likelihood of meeting sleep guidelines was 14% lower in never, 26% lower in current, and 24% lower in past hormone therapy users compared with premenopausal and perimenopausal women.

According to the researchers, these findings may be related to elevated follicle-stimulating hormone levels, as expected in postmenopausal women who do not use hormone therapy, and the lower estradiol levels associated with menopause, which have been associated with poorer sleep. In addition, menopause-related hot flashes and urogenital symptoms can contribute to sleep disturbances, but these symptoms may be alleviated by hormone therapy.

Survey results are published in the article “Menopause and hormone therapy in relation to dietary intake, physical activity, and sleep and meeting lifestyle guidelines.”

“This large observational study underscores that women who use hormone therapy tend to adopt overall healthier lifestyles. Although this association may partly reflect better symptom control enabling healthier behaviors, healthy-user bias is likely a significant contributor. Women who choose to use hormone therapy are often more proactive in their healthcare and may systematically differ from nonusers in socioeconomic resources, access to care, and health literacy. This largely explains why early observational studies of hormone therapy suggested cardiovascular benefits that were not confirmed in subsequent randomized, controlled trials,” says Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The Menopause Society.

For more information about menopause and healthy aging, visit www.menopause.org.

The Menopause Society is dedicated to empowering healthcare professionals and providing them with the tools and resources to improve the health of women during the menopause transition and beyond. As the leading authority on menopause since 1989, the nonprofit, multidisciplinary organization serves as the independent, evidence-based resource for healthcare professionals, researchers, the media, and the public

Journal

Menopause

DOI

10.1097/GME.0000000000000002805

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Menopause and hormone therapy in relation to dietary intake, physical activity, and sleep, and meeting lifestyle guidelines

Article Publication Date

17-Jun-2026

Friday, June 05, 2026

Infertility may lead to earlier menopause

A new study suggests that women with primary infertility have an increased risk of early menopause and collectively underwent menopause 1 year earlier

The Menopause Society

CLEVELAND, Ohio (June 3, 2026)—The average woman spends more than one-third of her life in menopause. Some women, however, must deal with menopause-related symptoms longer and face added health problems because of premature menopause (before age 40) or early menopause (before age 45). A new study found that infertility may be a risk factor for early menopause. Results of the study are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The Menopause Society.

Infertility is a common condition, affecting one in six people globally. Not only does infertility affect family planning, but it also affects long-term health. People with infertility have been found to have higher rates of cancer and cardiovascular disease. The cause of infertility varies but is often linked to genetic, hormone, in utero, or lifestyle factors.

Previous studies have been conducted to determine whether there is a link between infertility and both premature and early menopause but with mixed results. These prior studies did not consider the effect of different types of infertility.

A new study involving nearly 700 persons (of which roughly half had been diagnosed with primary infertility) found that women with a history of primary infertility underwent natural menopause 1 year earlier than those without such history, and more notably, those with a history of unexplained infertility or endometriosis had an increased risk of early menopause. There was no association found between infertility and premature menopause.

Premature and early menopause are concerns because they are associated with long-term health consequences such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and neurocognitive disorders. Risks for premature and early menopause include tobacco use, low body mass index, nulliparity, and early menarche. In contrast, women with increased parity (childbirths) and a history of oral contraceptive use have been linked to later menopause.

According to the researchers, given the systemic and long-term health effects of early menopause, women with a diagnosis of primary fertility may benefit from additional counseling and should be encouraged to pursue evaluation and treatment if they experience new-onset loss of menstrual cycles.

Survey results are published in the article “Infertility and age of menopause in a longitudinal cohort of women with primary infertility.”

“This study shows that women with primary infertility, specifically those with unexplained infertility or a history of endometriosis, were at risk for early menopause. Given that early menopause is linked to adverse long-term health consequences, these women may benefit from counseling that they are at risk of early menopause. This will allow them to monitor for early menopause and to seek treatment with hormone therapy, if indicated,” says Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The Menopause Society.

For more information about menopause and healthy aging, visit www.menopause.org.

Journal

Menopause

DOI

10.1097/GME.0000000000000002809

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Infertility and age at menopause in a longitudinal cohort of women with primary infertility

Article Publication Date

3-Jun-2026

Don’t keep calm and carry on: British women are among the angriest in Europe, survey reveals

By Amber Louise Bryce

Published on 05/06/2026 - EURONEWS

Long delays and dismissive attitudes within UK healthcare systems are impacting older British women especially, leaving them angrier and sadder than the rest of Europe.

As the saying (sort of) goes: Hell hath no fury like a British woman scorned… by their healthcare system

According to a new poll, women from the United Kingdom are among the angriest in Europe, with more than a fifth reporting feelings of rage.

The data was compiled by the Hologic Global Women's Health Index, the largest and most comprehensive global survey on women's health.

Its findings also note a decline in women’s emotional and physical health, and highlight ongoing inadequacies in female healthcare — something termed “medical misogyny” in a 2024 report by the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC).

Since February 2024, the women’s health score for the UK has fallen to its lowest levels going back to 2020, with the country now ranked 48th out of 143 countries.

In comparison, other European countries like Germany, Poland and Latvia all fared much better, ranking at 7, 5 and 2 respectively.

The scores take into account women’s reported levels of emotional health, their access to support and their overall quality of life.

Collectively, the data revealed that 42% of women are experiencing worry and 28% sadness.

Those over the age of 60 were impacted most, noted as the only age group to be angrier and sadder than they were in 2020, when the monitoring first began.

Rage against the gender health gap

A primary source of women's frustrations in the UK — and across much of the world — continues to be a lack of investment, recognition and support for female health conditions.

In January, a study by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) reported that women lose a combined 75 million years of healthy life every year, yet only receive 6% of total private healthcare investment.

This has meant that, while women are more likely than men to seek medical help, they still struggle to receive adequate treatment.

In particular, the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has shown notable gaps in its pelvic and menopause care, according to Pure Unity Health. The same report stated that only 2% of UK medical research funding was spent on pregnancy, childbirth and female reproductive health in 2025.

As a result, women are increasingly turning to social media for solidarity, with Reddit communities like r/endometriosis and r/menopause each containing over 100,000 members.

However, while these spaces can be powerful tools for raising awareness, they also carry the risk of misinformation, highlighting the urgent need for more in-person professional care.

“Women’s responses [to the poll] clearly illustrate the continuing deterioration across many aspects of their health and wellbeing,” Tim Simpson, the general manager for UK & Ireland, Benelux & Nordics at Hologic, told The Independent.

“Additional UK research found many are facing delays in care and losing confidence in the system,” he added.

These healthcare delays are one of the most pressing issues, with access to specialised NHS services largely dependent on where you live in the country. For example, those in bigger cities like London tend to have quicker wait times compared to rural areas.

More investment is also needed for chronic female conditions, many of which remain underresearched — and can have debilitating consequences on women’s lives.

According to Hologic’s study, a third of women were found to be experiencing daily physical pain, and nearly one in four reported health problems serious enough to interfere with activities.

“The good news is that we know where many of the challenges lie,” Simpson said.

“Women are telling us they want earlier diagnosis, faster access to care and greater use of innovative technologies. Improving women's health will take continued commitment from policymakers, the NHS, clinicians and industry working together to deliver the changes women are asking for.”

Thursday, June 04, 2026

Online menopause information–seeking search patterns and commercial content over 2 decades

JAMA Network Open

About The Study:

From 2005 to 2025, the proportion of menopause-related searches that were related to commercial products and services increased by 15 to 20 percentage points in the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States with no difference in the rate of increase by country. Increases appeared earlier in the U.S., with subsequent convergence across countries over time. These results suggest that individuals may be increasingly seeking nonclinical approaches to managing menopause, not only for symptom relief but also for ongoing guidance, tracking, or support outside traditional clinical encounters.

Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Francesca R. Farina, PhD, email ffarina@uchicago.edu.

To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/

(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.16596)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

# # #

Embed this link to provide your readers free access to the full-text article

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.16596?guestAccessKey=1b34668e-afe8-4888-aa3d-dd05b3b83eff&utm_source=for_the_media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=060426

About JAMA Network Open: JAMA Network Open is an online-only open access general medical journal from the JAMA Network. On weekdays, the journal publishes peer-reviewed clinical research and commentary in more than 40 medical and health subject areas. Every article is free online from the day of publication.

Journal

JAMA Network Open

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Advances in multi-omics and aging clock research for female reproductive health and aging

Higher Education Press

Fig1 — image:
Roadmap for multi-omics research and aging clock development.
view more
Credit: HIGHER EDUCATON PRESS

With global life expectancy steadily increasing, the growing gap between lifespan and healthspan has placed the aging of the female reproductive system at the forefront of biomedical research. This process, which profoundly impacts fertility, quality of life, and long-term health, is no longer viewed simply through the lens of chronological age or menopause. Instead, a paradigm shift is underway, where aging is understood as a distinct biological process best quantified by multi-omics technologies and computational models known as "aging clocks." These tools—encompassing epigenetics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and microbiomics—provide a powerful, integrated framework to measure biological age, reveal tissue-specific vulnerabilities, and elucidate systemic aging patterns that chronological metrics fail to capture. While this research area is still evolving, the growing availability of high-quality datasets offers unprecedented opportunities to advance our understanding of reproductive aging, infertility, and pregnancy complications, moving towards more personalized and predictive healthcare.

Aging across the entire female reproductive tract is characterized by a convergence of shared biological hallmarks, primarily driven by the decline in estrogen, the accumulation of cellular senescence, oxidative stress, and a state of chronic, low-grade inflammation. Ovarian aging represents the central and most consequential event, marked by the depletion of the ovarian follicle reserve and a decline in oocyte quality. This process is accelerated by mechanisms like mitochondrial dysfunction, genomic instability, and specific epigenetic alterations. The consequences extend far beyond fertility, increasing systemic risks for conditions such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease post-menopause. Parallel degenerative changes occur throughout the lower reproductive tract. In the uterus, estrogen deficiency leads to tissue atrophy, increased collagen deposition, and fibrosis, impairing endometrial receptivity. Cervical aging involves epithelial thinning and immune senescence, heightening vulnerability to infections like HPV. In the vagina, these changes manifest as the genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), featuring atrophy, dryness, and dysbiosis. A critical insight from multi-omics research is the bidirectional communication between different systems, particularly through the gut-ovary axis. Local vaginal dysbiosis, characterized by a loss of protective Lactobacillusspecies, and gut microbiome alterations can promote a pro-inflammatory state. This inflammation, along with microbial metabolites, can signal to the ovary, potentially accelerating follicular atresia and functional decline, thereby linking pelvic microenvironment health directly to the pace of reproductive aging.

Each category of omics data contributes a unique and complementary perspective to building a comprehensive picture of biological aging. Epigenetic clocks, such as the widely used Horvath and GrimAge clocks, analyze DNA methylation patterns at specific CpG sites. They provide a stable, cumulative record of long-term molecular aging and are effective for predicting longitudinal outcomes like the rate of ovarian reserve loss, as they are relatively insensitive to rapid hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle. Transcriptomic clocks and associated single-cell and spatial transcriptomic atlases offer a dynamic, high-resolution view. Tools like RAPToR estimate biological age from gene expression data, revealing cell-type-specific functional decline—for example, pinpointing downregulated genes in aging granulosa cells. Spatial transcriptomics adds the crucial dimension of tissue architecture, showing how aging signatures are localized within an organ. Proteomic and metabolomic clocks track functional and metabolic changes closer to the phenotypic level. Plasma proteomic profiles can predict organ-specific aging trajectories and are strongly correlated with clinical outcomes like physical and cognitive decline. Metabolomic clocks, such as the MetaboAgeMort, utilize circulating metabolites (e.g., specific lipids and amino acids) to create highly predictive models of biological age and short-term mortality risk. Finally, microbiome-based clocks profile the dynamic interface between the host and its environment. Models trained on gut, vaginal, or skin microbiota can predict chronological age and detect accelerated "microbial aging," which is often linked to dysbiosis. In the reproductive context, these clocks non-invasively reflect how shifts in microbial communities influence local estrogen metabolism, immune tone, and inflammation, thereby impacting ovarian function and endometrial health.

The ultimate translational promise lies in the integration of these diverse multi-omics datasets into sophisticated, multimodal aging clocks. Such composite models would move beyond merely estimating a number to providing a multidimensional health dashboard for the female reproductive system. This systems-level approach can identify key drivers and biomarkers of conditions like premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), recurrent implantation failure, and pelvic organ prolapse. It also illuminates potential therapeutic avenues, from metabolic reprogramming via mTOR inhibition and senolytic therapies to clear aged cells, to microbiome modulation with probiotics and precision molecular interventions targeting specific pathways like fibrosis. By decoding the complex molecular language of reproductive aging, multi-omics research is forging a path toward early risk identification, targeted prevention, and truly personalized interventions designed to preserve not just fertility, but overall healthspan and quality of life for women.

DOI

10.1007/s11684-026-1207-1

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Advances in multi-omics and aging clock research for female reproductive health and aging

Monday, April 20, 2026

Longer reproductive span linked with slower rates of cognitive decline

New large-scale study documented a significant association between endogenous estrogen-exposure history and better cognitive function in older women, but a longer duration of hormone therapy did not contribute to positive outcomes

The Menopause Society

CLEVELAND, Ohio (April 15, 2026)—Cognitive decline not only affects a woman’s quality of life but also her ability to lead an independent lifestyle later in life. A new large-scale study suggests that a longer reproductive lifespan, resulting in greater exposure to endogenous estrogen, is associated with better cognitive health. Results of the study are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The Menopause Society.

Cognitive decline can be considered a preclinical marker of dementia. Women experience faster cognitive decline than men, and it is hypothesized that sex hormones may contribute to this disparity. Reproductive span, defined as the time between age at menarche and age at menopause, represents an important aspect of natural estrogen exposure, although previous studies found inconsistent results between reproductive span and cognition. Studies on the effects of hormone therapy on cognition have also yielded conflicting results.

Given these inconsistencies in prior research regarding reproductive span and timing of hormone therapy initiation on cognitive decline, this new study used more than 30 years of prospectively collected data from more than 14,000 women to evaluate reproductive span, age at menarche, age at menopause, and surgical menopause and their associations with cognition. The results confirmed that a longer reproductive span is associated with better cognitive maintenance. However, hormone therapy use within 10 years of menopause showed no cognitive benefits.

Survey results are published in the article “Prospective study of reproductive span and menopausal hormone therapy and cognitive decline over 8 years in the Nurses’ Health Study.”

“This large observational study showed an association of longer reproductive span with better cognitive trajectories. However, longer duration of hormone therapy use, either within or outside 10 years of menopause, was not associated with better global cognitive performance. Although the results of this well-designed study may still be affected by residual confounding, they support current guidelines that recommend against the use of hormone therapy for prevention of dementia,” says Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The Menopause Society.

For more information about menopause and healthy aging, visit www.menopause.org.

Journal

Menopause

DOI

10.1097/GME.0000000000000002782

Method of Research

Survey

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Prospective study of reproductive span and menopausal hormone therapy and cognitive decline over 8 years in the Nurses' Health Study

Article Publication Date

15-Apr-2026

Having more kids associated with reduced risk of stroke and brain damage, research co-led by UT Health San Antonio shows

Number of live births could be an important predictive factor

The University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center

SAN ANTONIO, April 20, 2026 – While some say having lots of kids can make you lose your faculties, a new study suggests otherwise.

Research co-led by UT Health San Antonio, the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio, associates a greater number of live births with a reduced risk of stroke or brain damage for mothers. As more women than men have strokes, the finding is seen as significant in helping determine risk.

The study, titled, “Number of Live Births as a Protective Factor Against Clinical and Covert Brain Infarcts: The Framingham Heart Study,” was published on April 7 in the Journal of the American Heart Association, and on behalf of the association.

“Our findings would suggest that reproductive factors – for example, number of live births – may be an additional factor to consider when assessing stroke risk in women,” said Sudha Seshadri, MD, a behavioral neurologist, professor and founding director of the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio.

She is joint senior author of the study with Emer R. McGrath, PhD, with the School of Medicine at the University of Galway in Ireland. “Inclusion of this risk factor in female-specific clinical prediction rules for stroke may enhance risk prediction in women,” Seshadri said.

Reproductive factors in stroke

The study notes that stroke is a major cause of morbidity and death and disproportionately affects women, who account for 57% of all strokes in the United States.

Reproductive factors – for example, age at first menstrual period, age at menopause, circulating estrogen levels, number of pregnancies and use of hormone replacement therapy – affect overall lifetime exposure to estrogen, and therefore have been implicated as important predictors of future stroke risk in women.

Generally, greater exposure for a longer period or to higher levels of the body’s own estrogen has recently been associated with a lower burden of cerebral small-vessel disease in women. However, evidence for some factors, such as live births, has been conflicting.

For this study, researchers determined the association between number of live births and other female-specific reproductive factors and subsequent risk of stroke and magnetic resonance imaging markers of vascular brain injury in a community-based cohort. That cohort was the Framingham Heart Study, a long-term and ongoing community-based observational study of residents in Framingham, Massachusetts, dating to 1948. Seshadri serves as senior investigator.

Live births and decreased risk

The scientists followed 1,882 women over time, and who were stroke-free at a baseline examination during 1998 to 2001 and at a mean age of 61. They considered reproductive factors including the women’s number of live births given, age at menopause, postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy use, and serum estradiol and estrone levels.

During a median 18-year follow-up, they assessed the same participants for number of strokes from all causes, and secondarily for “covert brain infarcts” – like brain lesions representing vascular damage from restricted or reduced blood blow – and white matter hyperintensity volume, detected by MRI.

Over that period, 126 women had strokes. The researchers used statistical analyses known as multivariable Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for major vascular risk factors, and determined that three or more live births were associated with a reduced risk of stroke. Similarly, they found that three or more live births were associated with decreased risk of vascular brain injury.

“This may be an important factor to include in female-specific clinical prediction rules for stroke, but will require further study,” Seshadri said.

The researchers found no significant association between other reproductive factors and stroke or MRI markers of vascular brain injury.

Other authors of the study are with Boston University; Mass General Brigham, Boston; and University of California-Davis.

Number of Live Births as a Protective Factor Against Clinical and Covert Brain Infarcts: The Framingham Heart Study

Senan Maher, Matthew R. Scott, Rachel F. Buckley, Charles S. DeCarli, Hugo J. Aparicio, Jose Rafael Romero, Ramachandran S. Vasan, Joanne M. Murabito, Shalender Bhasin, Alexa S. Beiser, Sudha Seshadri, Emer R. McGrath

Published April 7, 2026, by Journal of the American Heart Association

Link to full study: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.125.044037

UT Health San Antonio is the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio), offering a comprehensive network of inpatient and outpatient care facilities staffed by medical, dental, nursing and allied health professionals who conduct more than 2.5 million patient visits each year. It is the region’s only academic health center and one of the nation’s leading health sciences institutions, supported by the schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions, graduate biomedical sciences and public health that are leading change and advancing fields throughout South Texas and the world. To learn about the many ways “We make lives better®,” visit UTHealthSA.org.

Stay connected with UT Health San Antonio on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

The Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio is dedicated to providing comprehensive dementia care while advancing treatment through clinical trials and research. The Biggs Institute is a National Institute on Aging (NIA)-designated Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC). UT Health San Antonio is the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio). In addition to providing patient care and conducting research, the Biggs Institute partners with the School of Nursing at UT San Antonio to offer the Caring for the Caregiver program.

Journal

Journal of the American Heart Association

DOI

10.1161/JAHA.125.0440

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Number of Live Births as a Protective Factor Against Clinical and Covert Brain Infarcts: The Framingham Heart Study

Article Publication Date

17-Apr-2026