ScienceDaily: Menopause News

Treatment with two osteoporosis drugs better at increasing bone density than single-drug therapy

Tue, 14 May 2013 21:31:31 EDT

A combination of two FDA-approved osteoporosis drugs with different mechanisms of action was found to increase bone density better than treatment with either drug alone in a small clinical trial.

Women's immune systems remain younger for longer

Tue, 14 May 2013 21:30:30 EDT

Women’s immune systems age more slowly than men's, new research suggests. The slower decline in a woman’s immune system may contribute to women living longer than men.

Hysterectomy does not increase risk of cardiovascular disease, study finds

Tue, 14 May 2013 18:53:53 EDT

Having a hysterectomy with or without ovary removal in mid-life does not increase a woman's risk of cardiovascular disease compared to women who reach natural menopause, contrary to many previously reported studies, according to new research.

Women altering menstruation cycles in large numbers

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:21:21 EDT

A surprisingly large number of women 18 or older choose to delay or skip monthly menstruation by deviating from the instructions of birth-control pills and other hormonal contraceptives, scientists have found

HRT improves muscle function

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:43:43 EDT

Hormone replacement therapy significantly improves muscle function -- down to the muscle fiber level -- in postmenopausal women, a new study.

Identification of gene variants affecting fertility offers new treatment possibility

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:08:08 EDT

Identification of genetic variations in the genes coding for the hormone FSH may provide new treatments for male and female infertility, according to new work. Scientists have characterized gene variations which may improve treatment for almost half of infertile men, as well as allowing tailored treatment for women undergoing assisted reproduction.

Hormone levels and sexual motivation among young women

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:02:02 EDT

Feeling frisky? If so, chances are greater your estrogen level -- and, perhaps, fertility -- are hitting their monthly peak. If not, you're more likely experiencing a profusion of desire-deadening progesterone, and the less fertile time in your cycle. Oh, the power of hormones.

Mammograms reveal response to common cancer drug

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:57:57 EDT

Researchers have developed a method for assessing the effect of tamoxifen, a common drug to prevent the relapse of breast cancer. The key lies in monitoring changes in the proportion of dense tissue, which appears white on a mammogram, during treatment. Women who show a pronounced reduction in breast density during tamoxifen treatment have a fifty percent reduction in breast cancer mortality.

Scientific basis for cognitive complaints of breast cancer patients

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:26:26 EDT

Researchers have shown a statistically significant association between neuropsychological (NP) test performance and memory complaints in post-treatment, early stage breast cancer patients. Patient-reported memory difficulties were also associated with having received chemotherapy and radiation and depressive symptoms in one of the first studies to show patient complaints of cognitive problems after breast cancer treatment (chemo brain) associates with NP test performance.

Vitamin D may reduce risk of uterine fibroids

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:44:44 EDT

Women who had sufficient amounts of vitamin D were 32 percent less likely to develop fibroids than women with insufficient vitamin D, according to a new study.

High blood pressure in pregnancy may spell hot flashes later

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 09:26:26 EDT

Women who have hypertensive diseases during pregnancy seem to be at higher risk of having troublesome hot flashes and night sweats at menopause, report researchers from the Netherlands.

Estrogen plus progestin use linked with increased breast cancer incidence and mortality

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:12:12 EDT

Estrogen plus progestin use is linked with increased breast cancer incidence. In addition, prognosis is similar for both users and nonusers of combined hormone therapy, suggesting that mortality from breast cancer may be higher for hormone therapy users as well, according to a new study.

Surgical menopause may prime brain for stroke, Alzheimer's

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:53:53 EDT

Removing the ovaries before menopause, appears to leave more of the brain vulnerable to stroke and increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease, researchers report.

Certain breast cancers have a trait that could be attacked by new therapies

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:32:32 EDT

The odds of developing breast cancer increase for women taking hormone replacement therapy to avoid the effects of menopause. New research may lead to treatments for breast cancers associated with taking these synthetic hormones. Scientists found that hormone-therapy-related breast cancer cells have a physical feature that could be attacked by therapies.

Just 'weight' until menopause: How estrogen deficiency affects women's fat absorption

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:41:41 EDT

Women tend to carry excess fat in their hips and thighs, while men tend to carry it on their stomachs. But after menopause, things start to change: many women's fat storage patterns start to resemble those of men. This indicates that there's a link between estrogen and body fat storage. This connection is well documented, but the underlying mechanisms remained poorly understood until now.

Hot flashes? Active days bring better nights

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:35:35 EDT

Getting a good night's sleep isn't always easy for women at menopause. Exercise may help, but women can have a tough time carving out leisure time for it. The good news from a new study is that higher levels of routine daily physical activity may be the more important key to a better night's sleep for many women who have hot flashes or night sweats.

Functional ovarian tissue engineered in lab

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:11:11 EDT

A proof-of-concept study suggests the possibility of engineering artificial ovaries in the lab to provide a more natural option for hormone replacement therapy for women.

New model may pinpoint timing of final menstrual period

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 09:50:50 EDT

For women enduring hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause, a new model could better estimate the timing of the final menstrual period, according to a recent study.

Ten years of tamoxifen reduces breast cancer recurrences, improves survival

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:50:50 EDT

For some women with breast cancer, taking adjuvant tamoxifen (Nolvadex) for 10 years after primary treatment leads to a greater reduction in breast cancer recurrences and deaths than taking the drug for only 5 years, according to the results of a large international clinical trial.

Estrogen may relieve post-menopausal joint pain, study suggests

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:52:52 EDT

Post-menopausal women, who often suffer from joint pain, could find some long-term relief by taking estrogen-only medication.

Gene profile may help identify risk for hormone-sensitive, hormone-insensitive breast cancer

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:41:41 EDT

The overexpression or underexpression of a newly identified set of genes related to lipid metabolism may help physicians identify whether or not a woman is at risk for hormone receptor-positive or hormone receptor-negative breast cancer and to subsequently tailor prevention strategies appropriately, according to new data.

Oral estrogen hormone therapy linked to increased risk of gallbladder surgery in menopausal women

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:26:26 EDT

Oral estrogen therapy for menopausal women is associated with an increased risk of gallbladder surgery, according to a large-scale study of more than 70 000 women in France).

Night shifts may be linked to increased ovarian cancer risk

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 07:47:47 EDT

Working night shifts might increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer, indicates new research.

No clear evidence that decline in hormone replacement therapy use linked to fall in breast cancer

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 07:47:47 EDT

There is no clear evidence that the decline in the use of hormone replacement therapy is linked to a reported fall in the numbers of new cases of breast cancer, as has been claimed, suggests a new study.

Age at first menstrual cycle, menopause tied to heart disease risk

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 09:15:15 EST

Chinese women are less likely to develop cardiovascular disease if they have their first menstrual cycle or enter menopause later than their peers, according to a recent study.

Postmenopausal women who smoked are more likely to lose teeth due to periodontal disease

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:36:36 EST

Postmenopausal women who have smoked are at much higher risk of losing their teeth than women who never smoked, according to a new study.

Effective treatment for common gynecological problem, suggested by new study

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 10:38:38 EST

A new study offers relief for women suffering from excessive periods.

Accelerated biological aging, seen in women with Alzheimer's risk factor, blocked by hormone therapy

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 17:31:31 EST

Healthy menopausal women carrying a well-known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease showed measurable signs of accelerated biological aging, a new study has found.

Blood may hold clues to risk of memory problems after menopause

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:56:56 EST

New research suggests that blood may hold clues to whether post-menopausal women may be at an increased risk for areas of brain damage that can lead to memory problems and possibly increased risk of stroke. The study shows that blood’s tendency to clot may contribute to areas of brain damage called white matter hyperintensities.

Study prompts rethink of how ovaries develop

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 10:20:20 EST

New research will rewrite the textbooks on how an ovary is formed, as well as providing new insights into women's health and fertility.

Long-term consequences of vaginal delivery on the pelvic floor

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 08:27:27 EST

Women are more likely to experience urinary incontinence, prolapse and fecal incontinence 20 years after one vaginal delivery rather than one caesarean section, finds new research from Sweden.

Early menopause may occur in women with BRCA gene

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 07:44:44 EST

Women with harmful mutations in the BRCA gene, which put them at higher risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, tend to undergo menopause significantly sooner than other women, allowing them an even briefer reproductive window and possibly a higher risk of infertility, according to a new study.

Early surgical menopause linked to declines in memory and thinking skills

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 16:13:13 EST

Women who undergo surgical menopause at an earlier age may have an increased risk of decline in memory and thinking skills, according to a new study. Early surgical menopause is the removal of both ovaries before natural menopause and often accompanies a hysterectomy.

Herbal treatments for postmenopausal symptoms may be recommended as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:23:23 EST

Herbal and complementary treatments could be recommended as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for treating postmenopausal symptoms says a new review.

Nutrisystem improves arterial function in obese, postmenopausal women, study finds

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 09:17:17 EST

Researchers in Florida report that they have found that Nutrisystem, with or without low intense resistance exercise, improves arterial function in obese, postmenopausal women.

Cognitive difficulties associated with menopause described

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 09:20:20 EST

The memory problems that many women experience in their 40s and 50s as they approach and go through menopause are both real and appear to be most acute during the early period of post menopause.

Healthy lifestyle during menopause may decrease breast cancer risk later on

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 13:36:36 EST

Obese, postmenopausal women are at greater risk for developing breast cancer and their cancers tend to be more aggressive than those in lean counterparts. A new shows how this risk might be prevented.

HPV in older women may be due to reactivation of virus, not new infection

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 08:52:52 EST

A new study suggests that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in women at or after menopause may represent an infection acquired years ago, and that HPV infections may exist below limits of detection after one to two years, similar to other viruses, such as varicella zoster, which can cause shingles. The study highlights the need for additional research to better understand HPV infections and the role of HPV persistence and reactivation, particularly in women of the baby boomer generation.

New hormone therapy shows promise for menopausal symptoms in animal model

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 08:46:46 EST

Investigators have concluded research on a new postmenopausal hormone therapy that shows promise as an effective treatment for menopausal symptoms and the prevention of osteoporosis without increasing the risk for heart disease or breast cancer.

Delaying childbirth may reduce the risk of an aggressive form of breast cancer, study suggests

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 16:25:25 EST

Younger women who wait at least 15 years after their first menstrual period to give birth to their first child may reduce their risk of an aggressive form of breast cancer by up to 60 percent, according to a new study.

What causes hot flushes during menopause? Researchers identify brain region that may trigger the uncomfortable surges of heat

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 15:44:44 EST

Medical researchers have identified a region in the brain that may trigger the uncomfortable surges of heat most women experience in the first few years of menopause. Although the results are not yet directly applicable in helping affected individuals, they provide better understanding of the biological mechanisms involved, a necessary first step for treatments to be developed.

Maintaining weight loss as important as losing it for older women

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 08:05:05 EST

New research found that gaining weight back after intentional weight loss is associated with negative long-term effects on some cardiometabolic (CM) risk factors in postmenopausal women.

Obesity and overeating during menopause together promote breast tumor growth and progression

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 10:16:16 EST

Obese women might be able to eliminate their increased risk for postmenopausal breast cancer by taking measures during perimenopause to prevent weight gain and to therapeutically control the metabolic effects of their obesity, according to the results of a preclinical study.

Predicting the age at menopause of women having suffered from childhood cancers

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:56:56 EST

Researchers studied the age at menopause of a cohort of 706 women who had suffered from childhood cancer. The data revealed that these women, in particular those who had undergone unilateral oophorectomy or who had been treated with alkylating agents and who had received a radiation dose to the ovaries, were menopaused on average four to seven years earlier than average.

Steroid injection linked with significant bone loss in postmenopausal women treated for back pain

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 08:59:59 EST

Postmenopausal women suffered significant bone density loss in their hip after they were treated with an epidural steroid injection for back pain relief, according to a new study. Bone density loss after six months was six times greater when compared to the typical bone density loss seen in a year in a postmenopausal woman who doesn't receive steroid injection, researchers say.

Menopause: Relaxation good therapy for hot flushes

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 11:28:28 EST

Women who have undergone group therapy and learned to relax have reduced their menopausal troubles by half, according to new results.

Daily steps add up for midlife women's health

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 13:08:08 EST

Moving 6,000 or more steps a day -- no matter how -- adds up to a healthier life for midlife women. That level of physical activity decreases the risk of diabetes and metabolic syndrome (a diabetes precursor and a risk for cardiovascular disease), showed a new study.

Timing of first menstual cycle may be predictor of cardiovascular disease risk in women

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 08:32:32 EST

Age at onset of menarche (first menstrual cycle) is associated with increased body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and overall obesity in adulthood, according to a recent study.

Osteoporosis risk factors after the menopause

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 08:35:35 EST

A preliminary study of 127 post-menopausal women on hormone replacement therapy in Portugal suggests that there are several risk factors associated with osteoporosis and bone fracture these include age, low bone mineral density, a sedentary lifestyle, coffee consumption and ovariectomy.

Mothers’ age at menopause may predict daughters’ ovarian reserve

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 19:17:17 EST

A mother’s age at menopause may predict her daughter’s fertility in terms of the numbers of eggs remaining in her ovaries, according to the new research.

Adding soy to diet does not affect onset of menopausal hot flashes

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 11:06:06 EDT

Eating soy products such as soy milk and tofu did not prevent the onset of hot flashes and night sweats as women entered menopause.

Metabolic syndrome makes a difference in hormone therapy risk, analysis suggests

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 21:05:05 EDT

A new analysis of the Women's Health Initiative trials show that women who had metabolic syndrome before they started hormone therapy had a greatly increased risk of heart attack or dying of heart disease. Women who didn't have metabolic syndrome beforehand showed no increased risk.

Timing is everything: Hormone use may reduce or increase Alzheimer's disease risk in women

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 16:47:47 EDT

A new study suggests that women who begin taking hormone therapy within five years of menopause may reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Hot flashes can come back after SSRI

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 12:47:47 EDT

Hot flashes and night sweats can return after women stop using escitalopram -- an antidepressant -- to treat these menopause symptoms, according to a new study. This is typical of stopping hormone therapy as well.

Clinical hypnosis can reduce hot flashes after menopause

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 11:15:15 EDT

Clinical hypnosis can effectively reduce hot flashes and associated symptoms among post-menopausal women, according to a new study.

Gene polymorphisms identified that are responsible for breast density and cancer risk

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 20:46:46 EDT

It has long been known that breast density, or mammographic density, is a strong risk factor for breast cancer, and that estrogen and progestin hormone therapy increases dense breast tissue. Now, a study has identified several gene variants in hormone metabolism and growth factor pathways that may be associated with breast density and, hence, breast cancer risk.

Blood hormone levels predicted long-term breast cancer risk for postmenopausal women

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:19:19 EDT

Blood hormone tests predicted a woman's risk for developing postmenopausal breast cancer for up to 20 years, according to new research.

Infertility: How can ovulation function be restored?

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 13:20:20 EDT

It is well known that breast feeding increases the secretion of the prolactin hormone and inhibits ovulation in women. This prevents the onset of a new pregnancy too soon, and so breast feeding was used in the past as a method of contraception. In addition to this physiological condition, there are many other pathological conditions in which the production of prolactin is increased. Thanks to new research, the intimate mechanism of the hyperprolactinaemia alterations affecting reproduction in mice has been discovered.

Menopause does not cause weight gain, but increases belly fat, major review finds

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 08:49:49 EDT

A comprehensive review by the International Menopause Society has found that going through the menopause does not cause a woman to gain weight. However, the hormonal changes at the menopause are associated with a change in the the way that fat is distributed, leading to more belly (abdominal) fat.

HRT taken for 10 years significantly reduces risk of heart failure and heart attack, study suggests

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 19:26:26 EDT

Women who take HRT for 10 years following menopause have a significantly reduced risk of mortality, heart failure and heart attack without any increased risk of cancer, DVT or stroke, a new study suggests.