Happy New Year! We are excited to open the year 2025 with Volume 32 of Menopause.
Because there is little known about sexual minority women and menopause, we are delighted to share with you the findings of the research by Muratore et al, who studied the indices of sexual function of sexual minority and heterosexual midlife women Veterans. The participants self-reported sexual orientation and the results were as follows: the sexual minority women were more likely to endorse recent sexual activity, less likely to report pain during sex, and less likely to report vaginal symptoms in the past month. However, both groups reported high levels of distress due to sexual dysfunction. In an elegant accompanying editorial, Dr. Jan Shifren points out how prevalent sexual problems are for women.
With the increasing lifespan longevity, patients are becoming more concerned with cognitive wellbeing. Kara et al did a 10-year follow-up study on the women who participated in the KEEPS trial. Women with an elevated blood pressure at baseline when the trial began had greater white matter hyperintensity volume 14 years later. There was no evidence that hormone therapy modified these effects. For this reason, it is important to maintain normal blood pressure as Dr. Mathew Nudy eloquently explains to us in his accompanying editorial.
Dwyer et al to answer the important question about the menopause experience and whether it is affected by where one resides – evaluated rural, suburban, and urban areas. It appears in this novel study that rural women experience a greater burden of psychological and somatic menopausal symptoms but no difference in vasomotor symptoms. Unfortunately, there were overall low rates of menopausal hormone therapy. Depending on where the health care provider practices, women may have different symptoms.
In keeping with our Menopause Step-by-Step series, Dr. Joanne Pinkerton, the expert, teaches us about Hormone Therapy.
We look forward to sharing another new year and more exciting and groundbreaking information with you!
Isaac Schiff, MD, CM
Editor-in-Chief​​
​View all of the video summaries in the Video Gallery​​​​
