Study Finds Menopause-Related Body Changes May Begin Years Earlier
14 Oct 2026
Researchers reported sudden changes across several body systems, although Australian experts disagree on how these findings should be interpreted.
Published in Nature Medicine, the research analysed laboratory test results collected in Israel and the United States between 1999 and 2024. The researchers found significant changes in 52 of 90 tests in the US data, including those linked to hormones, bone health, liver and kidney function, blood chemistry and blood fats.
Some experts welcomed the findings as a way to better understand menopause beyond its effects on fertility. However, others questioned the study's methods and warned that describing menopause as a “physiological cliff” could cause unnecessary concern.
Dr Karen Magraith, a former president of the Australasian Menopause Society, said menopause is a normal biological process and should not be presented as a disaster. She noted that the transition offers an opportunity to assess heart health and metabolic risk factors.
Associate Professor Mia Schaumberg from the University of the Sunshine Coast said the research offered new insights into changes affecting different parts of the body. Professor Andrew Shelling from the University of Auckland also described the findings as encouraging but said further research is needed to confirm their significance.
Professor Martha Hickey from the University of Melbourne raised concerns about the study's quality and the clinical importance of its results. She also warned that the findings do not prove menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) prevents long-term conditions such as cardiovascular disease or dementia.
Experts stressed that the findings need to be interpreted carefully and do not establish that MHT should be used to prevent chronic diseases.
Study Finds Menopause-Related Body Changes May Begin Years Earlier
Source: Nature Medicine