Divine Aleru, Microbiome Signatures Research Coordinator

This study reveals how SH-driven changes in perimenopausal women associate with distinct gut microbiota and metabolomic profiles, linking specific bacteria and metabolic pathways to symptoms like bone pain and mental disturbances, with implications for personalized management strategies.

What was reviewed?This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized data from 46 community-based studies across 24 countries, assessing the influence of socioeconomic position (EP) and lifestyle factors on age at natural menopause (NM). The review sought to determine overall mean NM globally, compare regional differences, and quantify the impact of EP (education, occupation, income) and modifiable […]

Menopause reduces gut microbiome diversity and shifts composition toward a male-like profile, likely due to declining estrogen and progesterone. These changes may impact postmenopausal health and disease risk, highlighting the gut microbiome as a promising therapeutic target.

Menopause drives profound shifts in the oral, gut, and vaginal microbiome, decreasing protective species and increasing disease risk. Understanding these hormone-microbe interactions is crucial for developing personalized interventions to improve women’s health during and after the menopausal transition.

This review details how menopause-driven hormonal changes alter the vaginal and gut microbiome, emphasizing the clinical implications for symptoms and therapies, and advocating for more inclusive, microbiome-informed interventions to support healthy aging in women.

This prospective study of 17,070 African American women found smoking most strongly predicts earlier menopause, while higher MI and oral contraceptive use are protective. Perceived racism showed suggestive but inconsistent associations with menopause timing, underscoring the need for further research on psychosocial stressors and reproductive aging.

Menopause alters the gut, vaginal, and urinary microbiomes, decreasing Lactobacillus and increasing microbial diversity. These changes contribute to SM, rUTI, and urinary symptoms. Hormone therapy and probiotics partially restore healthy microbiota, offering new avenues for genitourinary symptom management in postmenopausal women.

ICE guidance recommends diagnosing menopause in women over 45 clinically, not with lab tests, while SH measurement is reserved for suspected OI in women under 40, streamlining care and reducing unnecessary testing in clinical biochemistry laboratories.

Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (OI) is a medical condition in which a woman’s ovaries stop functioning normally before the age of 40. This leads to reduced estrogen production and irregular menstrual cycles, which may eventually result in infertility and early menopause-like symptoms. OI can occur due to various reasons, including genetic factors, autoimmune disorders, chemotherapy, or unknown causes. Though often misunderstood and misdiagnosed, OI can significantly impact a woman’s physical and emotional well-being. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, including hormone replacement therapy (RT) and fertility interventions, can help manage symptoms, improve quality of life, and in some cases, restore fertility.

Menopause impacts many aspects of health, including the gut microbiome, weight management, and hormone balance. Diet, probiotics, intermittent fasting, and RT offer effective management strategies.