The Association between Stress Level in Daily Life and Age at Natural Menopause in Korean Women: Outcomes of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2010-2012

Associations between childhood adversity and age at natural menopause

OBJECTIVE

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are reported in more than half of the women in the United States and have been shown to negatively impact the menopause experience. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between ACEs and age at natural menopause.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study conducted among participants of the Data Registry on the Experiences of Aging, Menopause, and Sexuality (DREAMS). The registry included women who were seen for consultations in the women's health clinic at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, between May 2015 and December 2016. Only postmenopausal women were included in this analysis. Childhood adversity was assessed with the validated ACE questionnaire. Age at natural menopause was self-reported. The association between ACEs and age at menopause was evaluated using a multivariable linear regression model adjusting for multiple confounders.

RESULTS

A total of 350 women were evaluated. The mean age was 59.2 years, and a majority were White (92.9%), married/partnered (82%), and educated (91.2% with at least some college education). Women with a history of at least four ACEs were estimated to reach natural menopause 1.3 years sooner than women with no ACE in multivariable analysis, but the results were not statistically significant (95% confidence interval, -3.2 to 0.6; P = 0.18).

CONCLUSIONS

Although stressful life experiences such as ACEs may negatively influence health for midlife women, this study did not find an association with the age at natural menopause.

Trauma and female reproductive health across the lifecourse: motivating a research agenda for the future of women's health

The aetiology behind many female reproductive disorders is poorly studied and incompletely understood despite the prevalence of such conditions and substantial burden they impose on women's lives. In light of evidence demonstrating a higher incidence of trauma exposure in women with many such disorders, we present a set of interlinked working hypotheses proposing relationships between traumatic events and reproductive and mental health that can define a research agenda to better understand reproductive outcomes from a trauma-informed perspective across the lifecourse. Additionally, we note the potential for racism to act as a traumatic experience, highlight the importance of considering the interaction between mental and reproductive health concerns, and propose several neuroendocrinological mechanisms by which traumatic experiences might increase the risk of adverse health outcomes in these domains. Finally, we emphasize the need for future primary research investigating the proposed pathways between traumatic experiences and adverse female reproductive outcomes.

Sasa Quelpaertensis Nakai Induced Antidepressant-Like Effect in Ovariectomized Rats

Background

Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai extract (SQE) or dwarf bamboo has been extensively investigated for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects; however, no previous study assessed its effect as an antidepressant agent. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the effect of oral SQE administration in ameliorating menopausal depressive symptoms and to evaluate its mechanisms in ovariectomized rats with repeated stress.

Methods

All experimental groups except normal group underwent ovariectomy and then immobilization for 14 consecutive days. During these 2 weeks, two rat groups received SQE (100 and 300 mg/kg orally) and their cutaneous body temperature was measured. The tail suspension test (TST) and forced swim test (FST) were performed in order to evaluate depression-like behavior. Additionally, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry were carried out to evaluate the central monoaminergic neurotransmitter levels and activity.

Results

Oral SQE (100 mg/kg) administration had reduced immobility time in TST and FST. Additionally, the SQE 100 and 300 mg/kg administration had decreased the cutaneous body temperature in the rats compared to those without treatment. In ELISA analysis, the SQE 100 group expressed elevated levels of serotonin and dopamine in the hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus. Antityrosine hydroxylase (anti-TH) antibodies showed a tremendous increase in the density of TH positive cells in the locus coeruleus (LC) region of the SQE 100 group. Likewise, the SQE 100 elevated the number of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) and protein kinase C (PKC) immunoreactive cell counts and density in the hypothalamic region.

Conclusion

These results suggested that the oral SQE administration induced the antidepressant-like effect in the ovariectomized rats with repeated stress via upregulating the levels of serotonin and dopamine through enhancing the expression of TH, TPH, and PKC in many brain areas.

Correlation of age at natural menopause with occupational status and other epidemiologic factors in women from Prefecture of Kavala, Greece

AIM

Aim of this study was to explore possible associations between the timing of natural menopause and occupational status and other determinant epidemiologic factors among women living in the Prefecture of Kavala, a region of North-East Greece.

METHODS

The sample of the study comprised of 827 naturally menopausal women, who consented to participate in this questionnaire-based interview study between 2011 and 2016. The study population was recruited from women who were hospitalized or visited the outpatient clinics of the General Hospital of Kavala and women working in the public sector services and private companies in the Prefecture of Kavala.

RESULTS

The mean age of the sample at natural menopause was 49.1 years; 12.2 % had early menopause, and 4.5 % were diagnosed with premature ovarian failure. For the majority of enrolled women (80.5 %) menopause occurred between 45-54 years, and for the rest (2.8 %) after 54 years of age. In univariate analysis, a statistically significant correlation was found between age at menopause and occupational status, year of birth, mother's age at menopause, age at menarche, and high levels of chronic stress. Multiple regression analysis revealed that occupational status, year of birth and mother's natural menopausal age could predict age at menopause.

CONCLUSION

Socioeconomic, demographic and familial variables appear to be associated with age at natural menopause in a representative sample of women in the Prefecture of Kavala, Greece. HIPPOKRATIA 2017, 21(1): 32-37.