Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Sex Med 2022 Jul;19(7):1098-1115

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany.

Background: Changes in sex hormones during menopause may have detrimental effects on a woman's sexual function and cause mood disorders. The treatment of both conditions is a challenge in gynecology.

Aim: To review the published literature on sexual function and mood disorders among peri- and postmenopausal women. Read More

J Midlife Health 2022 Jan-Mar;13(1):26-33. Epub 2022 May 2.

Acharya Shri Chander College of Medical Sciences & Hospital Sidhra Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Women are likely to suffer from sleep disorders more in comparison to men during menopause and with advancing age. The incidence of sleep disorders ranges from 16% to 47% at peri-menopause and 35%-60% at postmenopause. Insomnia with or without associated anxiety or low lying depression and Mood disorder is most common associated manifestations. Read More

Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2022 May;26(10):3493-3505

Children's Ward, Children's Observation and Infectious Ward, Independent Voivodship Combined Hospital in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland.

Objective: Vitamin D deficiency is a significant problem that affects the population living in most countries. This issue is independent by place of residence, sex, age or skin color. It is mainly influenced by the environment we live in and by an unhealthy lifestyle, including bad eating habits. Read More

BMC Womens Health 2022 05 10;22(1):149. Epub 2022 May 10.

Department of Nursing, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan City, 33303, Taiwan, ROC.

Background: The perimenopausal period is associated with a higher risk of various mood disorders. Similarly, although resting-state electroencephalogram (rsEEG) brain oscillatory activity has been associated with various neuropsychological disorders and behaviours, these issues have not been assessed in perimenopausal women. This study aimed to evaluate quantitative relationships between psychometric properties and rsEEG rhythms (delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma powers) in perimenopausal women. Read More

Curr Treat Options Psychiatry 2022 Apr 23:1-12. Epub 2022 Apr 23.

Centre for Neuroscience Studies (CNS), Queen's University, Kingston, 752 King Street West, Kingston, ON K7L 7X3 Canada.

Purpose: Despite recent advancements in the treatment of depression, the prevalence of affected individuals continues to grow. The development of new strategies has been required and emerging evidence has linked a possible antidepressant effect with dietary interventions. In this review, we discuss recent findings about the possible antidepressant effect of dietary interventions with an emphasis on the results of randomized controlled trials. Read More

Nutrients 2022 Mar 6;14(5). Epub 2022 Mar 6.

Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Alcala, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Spain.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is an incapacitating condition characterized by loss of interest, anhedonia and low mood, which affects almost 4% of people worldwide. With rising prevalence, it is considered a public health issue that affects economic productivity and heavily increases health costs alone or as a comorbidity for other pandemic non-communicable diseases (such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, inflammatory bowel diseases, etc.). Read More

Gynecol Endocrinol 2022 Apr 8;38(4):339-344. Epub 2022 Mar 8.

Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, Pisa, Italy.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term effects of a combination of isoflavones, agnus castus and magnolia extracts (combined isoflavone compound [CIC]) on climacteric symptoms and cardiometabolic risk in symptomatic postmenopausal women.

Methods: This interventional, prospective study evaluated climacteric symptoms, mood and sleep disorders using the 21-item Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS) and 7-item Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) questionnaires; and cardiovascular, metabolic and thrombotic risk markers at baseline (T0) and after 12 months of CIC treatment (T1).

Results: In healthy postmenopausal women ( = 71), 12-month CIC treatment significantly reduced patient-reported vasomotor symptoms (100% 17%), mood disorders (67% . Read More

Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult 2022 ;99(1):50-55

National Medical Research Center for Medical Rehabilitation and Balneology, Moscow, Russia.

One of the current health care problems is a menopausal syndrome (MS), a set of symptoms characterized by specific metabolic, neurological, autonomous, and psychosomatic changes. Many authors believe that one of the main methods of prevention and treatment of menopausal disorders is hormone replacement therapy, but there are many contraindications. Therefore, there is increasing interest in the development of non-medicinal therapy methods, in particular, physiotherapeutic treatment. Read More

Front Psychol 2021 2;12:813291. Epub 2022 Feb 2.

International Psychoendocrinology and Psychotherapy Practice, Heilbronn, Germany.

BMC Psychiatry 2022 02 11;22(1):108. Epub 2022 Feb 11.

Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Shariati Street, P.O. Box: 51745-347, Tabriz, 513897977, Iran.

Background: One of the most critical periods in a woman's life is menopause. During menopause, depression and anxiety are among the most common mood changes. Sleep disorders also increase during menopause, which leads to quality of life disorders. Read More

Physiol Genomics 2022 03 31;54(3):99-114. Epub 2022 Jan 31.

Department of Natural Sciences, College of Liberal Arts, International Christian University, Tokyo, Japan.

Estrogen plays a role in cardiovascular functions, emotional health, and energy homeostasis via estrogen receptors expressed in the brain. The comorbid relationship between rising blood pressure, a decline in mood and motivation, and body weight gain after menopause, when estrogen levels drop, suggests that the same brain area(s) contributes to protection from all of these postmenopausal disorders. The amygdala, a major limbic system nuclear complex known to express high estrogen receptor levels, is involved in the regulation of such physiological and psychological responses. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2022 Jan;101(3):e28558

Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China.

Background: Perimenopausal depressive disorder (PDD) is an affective disorder involving endocrine, neurological, immune, which seriously endangers the physical and mental health of human. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the current first-line clinical treatment, have limited efficacy and serious side effects. Acupuncture combined with SSRIs therapy has been widely used clinically because it increases efficacy and reduces side effects. Read More

Maturitas 2022 Feb 29;156:1-11. Epub 2021 Oct 29.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Objective: To evaluate in postmenopausal women the association between menopause symptom intensity and the quality of life and clinical, anthropometric, and lifestyle factors, focusing on food consumption by degree of processing.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study of 288 postmenopausal women using interviews.

Main Outcome Measures: The Kupperman-Blatt Menopausal Index and the Women's Health Questionnaire were used to evaluate the main outcomes of menopausal symptom intensity and quality of life, respectively. Read More

J Dent Sci 2022 Jan 1;17(1):8-13. Epub 2021 Jul 1.

Department of Oral Physiology, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.

Sex differences in the nervous system have gained recent academic interest. While the prominent differences are observed in mood and anxiety disorders, growing number of evidences also suggest sex difference in pain perception. This review focuses on estrogen as the key molecule underlying such difference, because estrogen plays many functions in the nervous system, including modulation of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and P2X purinoceptor 3 (P2X3), two important nociceptive receptors. Read More

Expert Opin Drug Saf 2022 May 29;21(5):673-690. Epub 2021 Dec 29.

Department of Psychiatry, CSM Yecla-Jumilla, Spain.

Introduction: Vortioxetine is a multimodal-acting antidepressant that provides improvements on cognitive function aside from antidepressants and anxiolytic effects. Vortioxetine has been found to be one of the most effective and best tolerated options for major depressive disorder (MDD) in head-to-head trials.

Areas Covered: The present review intends to gather the most relevant and pragmatic data of vortioxetine in MDD, specially focusing on new studies that emerged between 2015 and 2020. Read More

J Affect Disord 2022 03 23;300:145-149. Epub 2021 Dec 23.

Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Connors Center for Women's Health and Gender Biology, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, United States. Electronic address:

Background: Previous work implicates high pro-inflammatory biomarkers in mood disturbance and low brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in major depression. However, in hormonally-sensitive premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), BDNF levels are higher when mood is worse. Perimenopausal depression has not been studied to date. Read More

J Inflamm Res 2021 7;14:6633-6656. Epub 2021 Dec 7.

Department of Physiology and Pain Research Center, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China.

Purpose: Postmenopausal women often suffer from chronic pain, memory decline and mood depression. The mechanisms underlying the neuronal disorders are not fully understood, and effective treatment is still lacking.

Methods: Oral administration of magnesium-L-threonate was tested to treat the neuronal disorders in ovariectomized and aged female mice. Read More

Women Health 2021 Nov-Dec;61(10):917-936. Epub 2021 Nov 28.

Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Despite several existing studies on the age at natural menopause (ANM) and its related factors, epidemiologic data on the associations between chronic diseases and ANM are scarce with conflicting and inconclusive results. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the results of the studies investigating the association between chronic disease and ANM. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for retrieving and summarizing studies published up to October 2020 investigating the association between chronic medical conditions and ANM. Read More

Minerva Obstet Gynecol 2021 Nov 26. Epub 2021 Nov 26.

Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologica, IRCCS-Ospedale San Martino, Genova, Italy.

Background: Purified Cytoplasm of Pollen (PCP) is a non-hormonal herbal remedy used to manage vasomotor symptoms (VMS), sleep and mood disorders in menopausal women not relying on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Many studies demonstrated its efficacy and safety in post-menopause but few data are available about peri-menopause.

Methods: This is a multicentre prospective observational study on Italian symptomatic women in peri- and post-menopause referring to gynaecology clinics of different areas of Italy, evaluating the effects of PCP therapy on hot flashes (HFs) and other parameters included in the Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS). Read More

Post Reprod Health 2021 Dec 8;27(4):209-214. Epub 2021 Nov 8.

King's College London, London, UK.

The menopausal transition is associated with increasing sleep disorders including sleep apnoea and restless leg syndrome. Insomnia is the most common and is recognised as a core symptom of the menopause. Guidelines to support decision making for women with sleep problems during the menopausal transition are lacking. Read More

Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult 2021 ;98(5):40-46

Ural state medical university, Ekaterinburg, Russia.

The menopausal syndrome is associated with a combination of neuropsychic, autonomic, vascular, and metabolic disorders. Sex steroids regulate neurotransmitter metabolism, activate neuronal plasticity, improve cerebral blood flow, maintain a stable mood, and have an antidepressant effect. In Russia, only 1% of women use menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). Read More

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2021 16;2021:8037459. Epub 2021 Oct 16.

Department of Gynecology, Ningbo Women and Children's Hospital, Ningbo 315012, China.

In this prospective study, we randomly divided 100 patients with perimenopausal syndrome equally into the control group ( = 50) receiving conventional treatment and the study group ( = 50) receiving estradiol valerate. The indicators observed were endometrial thickness, uterine volume, and the levels of LH (luteinizing hormone), FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), and E2 (estradiol) of the patients before and after treatment. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Hamilton Anxiety/Depression Scale (HAMA/HAMD), Kupperman symptom score, and menopause-specific quality of life (MENQOL) were also applied to assess the sleep quality, negative emotions, severity of the condition, and quality of life of all patients, respectively. Read More

Womens Health Rep (New Rochelle) 2021 22;2(1):430-442. Epub 2021 Sep 22.

Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Bipolar and depressive disorders (bipolar disorder [BD], major depressive disorder [MDD]), as well as menopause affect millions of women. Although there are three known cognitive behavioral group treatment (CBGT) protocols to help women with problematic menopause symptoms, they do not target women on the BD or MDD spectrum. The purpose of this qualitative study was to learn more about the treatment needs and group experiences of women with problematic menopause symptoms and diagnosed on the BD and MDD spectrum, who participated in a CBGT intervention for menopausal symptoms. Read More

Gynecol Oncol 2021 12 11;163(3):598-604. Epub 2021 Oct 11.

Clinical Research Department, Centre François Baclesse, av general Harris, Caen, France; INSERM, U1086, Caen, France; University of Caen Normandy, UMR-S1077, Caen, France; Department of Oncology, CHU de Caen, Caen, France.

Objective: We have previously shown that epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and its treatments have negative effects on long-term quality of life (QoL) and fatigue. The present multicenter study investigated the main menopausal symptoms and gynecological management of EOC survivors (EOCS).

Methods: 166 patients with relapse-free ≥3 years after the end of treatment attended a consultation with a gynecologist, including a questionnaire related to vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and sexuality, a clinical examination, a blood sample and an osteodensitometry. Read More

Geroscience 2022 02 13;44(1):229-252. Epub 2021 Oct 13.

Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, 505 NW 185th Avenue, Beaverton, OR, 97006, USA.

Obesity, the cessation of ovarian steroids with menopause, and age are risk factors for mood disorders, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, immediate hormone therapy (HT) after menopause may have beneficial effects in different brain regions involved in memory and cognition. To more closely replicate the age, endocrine, and metabolic environment of obese postmenopausal women, either on or off HT, middle-aged female rhesus macaques were ovariectomized/hysterectomized (OvH) and maintained on a high-fat, high-sugar, obesogenic Western-style diet (WSD) for 30 months; half of the animals received HT immediately after OvH and half served as placebo controls. Read More

Homeopathy 2022 May 11;111(2):79-96. Epub 2021 Oct 11.

Homeopathy Outpatient Service, Hospital Juárez de México, Mexico City, Mexico.

Background:  Menopausal complaints are frequently treated with homeopathy in daily practice worldwide. Recently, vasomotor symptoms have been understood to have implications as predictors of other important and long-term outcomes, causing increased risk of mortality and/or disability.

Methods:  A comprehensive search of the literature was conducted to investigate whether homeopathic treatments for menopausal women with vasomotor symptoms have a positive effect on other important health outcomes associated with menopause, such as cardiovascular disease, neurocognitive impairment, metabolic and mood disorders, or osteoporosis. Read More

Curr Psychiatry Rep 2021 10 6;23(11):73. Epub 2021 Oct 6.

Department of Psychology, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK, Canada.

Purpose Of Review: This review considers how reproductive aging may impact the trajectory of menstrually related mood disorders (MRMDs) such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder and considers how the treatment of MRMDs might require adjustment as patients approach midlife.

Recent Findings: The early menopause transition is accompanied by important hormonal changes that may exacerbate existing MRMDs. Indeed, recent research confirms that an important subset of women experiences depressive mood in response to perimenopausal elevations in ovarian hormones. Read More

Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021 11 13;133:105418. Epub 2021 Sep 13.

Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

The menopause transition, which constitutes the five or so years surrounding the final menstrual period, has been established as a time of increased risk for depressive symptoms. While mounting research suggests that exposure to more extreme and fluctuating levels of estradiol (E2) plays a role, it remains unclear which specific trigger is most strongly implicated in the development of depressive mood: acute E2 withdrawal or extreme increases in E2. The current review summarises the literature supporting the role of each, considering research pertaining to perimenopausal depression as well as other reproductive mood disorders in which ovarian hormone change is believed to play a key role, namely premenstrual dysphoric disorder and postpartum depression. Read More

Ther Umsch 2021 ;78(8):427-434

Universität Bern.

Climacteric depression and anxiety Women of all ages have a higher incidence of depression than men. The lifetime prevalence of depressive disorders in women is twice the prevalence in males and amounts to 18 - 21 %. The menopausal transition is a "window of increased vulnerability" and might trigger a depressive disorder. Read More

Ann Med 2021 12;53(1):1589-1597

Academic Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.

Introduction: In puerperium, the hypoestrogenic state induced by delivery and subsequently sustained by lactation may lead to vaginal dryness, burning, and itching sensation, contributing to the onset of sexual dysfunction.

Material And Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, controlled, open-label study (NCT04560283) for evaluating the effects of application of a prolonged-release hyaluronic acid derivative vaginal gel in restoring sexual function during the postpartum period. Eighty-five patients were randomized to apply prolonged-release Hydeal-D 0. Read More