How does menopause change women's bodies? Sudden changes in bones, liver and blood fat

The results of an extensive study show that, contrary to popular belief, menopause is not just a gradual part of the aging process, but can be accompanied by sudden changes in the function of different parts of the body; From bone health and liver and kidney function to blood composition and fat content.

According to the selection report and quoted by Science Alert; By examining more than 300 million laboratory results related to more than one million women in the United States and Israel, researchers found that as the last menstrual period approaches and the onset of menopause, significant changes occur in many women's health indicators.

In this study, among 90 types of tests examined in American data, 52 cases showed sudden and significant changes at the same time as menopause. These changes were especially prominent in indicators related to bone health, liver function and fat metabolism.

The researchers emphasize that these changes cannot be attributed solely to aging. Comparing the results with men's data also showed that such sudden changes are not observed in them; A topic that highlights the role of the menopause process in these transformations.

The role of estrogen in women's body changes

According to experts, one of the main factors of these changes is the decrease of estrogen hormone. In addition to its important role in the health of the reproductive system, this hormone also affects various parts of the body, including bones and liver.

For this reason, the decline in estrogen during menopause can be accompanied by changes in bone health and the way the body processes fats.

The findings of this research also show that hormonal changes may begin years before the end of menstruation. Studies indicate that the level of AMH and estradiol hormones decreases about 12 to 15 years before the last menstruation. In contrast, the level of follicle-stimulating hormone, or FSH, may increase about 14 years before menopause.

These results suggest that physiological changes associated with menopause may begin much earlier than previously thought.

Is menopause really a sudden change?

Despite the breadth of this research, some experts believe that describing menopause as a sudden and drastic change may cause unnecessary worry in women. According to them, this study does not mean a sudden drop in physical or mental health of women, but shows that many biological indicators undergo changes during this period.

On the other hand, the researchers emphasize that this study is observational and alone cannot prove the cause and effect relationship between menopause and all the identified changes.

However, the findings provide a new perspective on the impact of menopause on women's health and can pave the way for further research on ways to prevent potential problems of this period.

The results of this research have been published in the scientific journal Nature Medicine.