Menopause in women is a natural process that is defined as the absence of menstrual bleeding for 12 months1. Perimenopause (the period before menopause) and post-menopause (the period after menopause) are characterized by significant changes in the hormonal balance in women’s bodies, particularly by the decrease in estrogen and progesterone levels2. Estrogen helps regulate the functioning of many organs and systems, including the brain, sexual organs, bones, muscles, blood vessels, and skin3–7. The declining estrogen levels in women have a profound impact on their bodies and often comes with significant symptoms, such as hot flushes or joint pain8. Progesterone is a hormone that is responsible for preparing the uterus for pregnancy, and it is produced in the second half of the menstrual cycle after ovulation9.
While menopause is both natural and inevitable, it is important to learn its mechanisms and potential consequences, as well as how to deal with this special moment in women’s life to maintain a good quality of life. Speaking with doctors, family members, is an important step in managing menopause.
Consequences of menopause on the health of women
Beyond its actual symptoms, menopause can lead to long-term health issues that may affect a woman’s quality of life10. The resulting imbalance in the body’s sex hormones prevents the ovaries from generating estrogen and releasing an egg each month11.
Unaddressed menopause can lead to numerous consequences. Here are just a few of them:
Osteoporosis: Postmenopausal women are likely to develop osteoporosis, a condition where bones become due to lower estrogen levels. During menopausal transition period, the drop in estrogen leads to more resorption than formation, which might result in osteoporosis5. Osteoporosis leads to higher fragility in bones, hence higher risk of fracture15. One in two postmenopausal women will have osteoporosis, and most will suffer a fracture during their lifetime14. It affects mostly wrist, hip and spine15.
Cardiovascular disease: In postmenopausal women, blood pressure starts to increase16. LDL cholesterol, or “bad” cholesterol, tends to increase, while HDL, or “good” cholesterol, declines or remains the same17. Triglycerides, certain types of fats in the blood, also increase. All these factors can lead to heart events18.
Alzheimer’s disease: Estrogen is responsible for brain functioning in women; thus, decreased estrogen might alter brain functioning19. Women suffer more often from Alzheimer’s disease (about 2/3 of Alzheimer patients are women20), and some researchers link the increased risk to unaddressed menopause21.
Cognitive and psychological problems, such as depression or anxiety22.
Skin changes: Estrogen is important for keeping the skin healthy. As estrogen levels decrease with menopause, many skin changes occur, including dryness, thinning and weakening of the skin, fine wrinkling, and poor wound healing23.
Sexual health: Although vaginal dryness and pain during the intercourse may arise at all ages, it is by far more frequent in women undergoing menopause24. As estrogen levels decline in a woman’s body, the tissues in the vaginal area become drier, leading to dryness and painful intercourse25.
Given all its potential consequences, it is important to discuss menopause and establish a care plan with a doctor. Solutions that will help you go through this period exist and may improve your quality of life.
Early menopause
Hormonal changes leading up to menopause typically begin in a woman’s mid-40s, with the average Indian woman experiencing menopause nearly five years earlier compared to western nations, at around 46 years25. Early menopausal women may suffer from neurological diseases, psychosexual dysfunction, mood disorders, osteoporosis, ischemic heart disease, and infertility25. The reasons for early menopause are not always clear, but autoimmune diseases, mumps infection, smoking, radiation and chemotherapy, surgery on ovaries, or high levels of Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone are sometimes considered potential causes26.
Women who experience early menopause should consult a healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause and develop an appropriate care plan. Early menopause is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and bone fragility27,28. Seeking timely medical advice is important to manage these risks effectively.
References :
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White RE. Estrogen and vascular function. Vascul Pharmacol. 2002;38(2):73-80. doi:10.1016/s0306-3623(02)00129-5
Chidi-Ogbolu N, Baar K. Effect of Estrogen on Musculoskeletal Performance and Injury Risk. Frontiers in Physiology. 2019;9:1834. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.01834
Noirrit-Esclassan E, Valera MC, Tremollieres F, et al. Critical Role of Estrogens on Bone Homeostasis in Both Male and Female: From Physiology to Medical Implications. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2021;22(4):1568. doi:10.3390/ijms22041568
Stevenson S, Thornton J. Effect of estrogens on skin aging and the potential role of SERMs. Clinical Interventions in Aging. 2007;2(3):283. doi:10.2147/cia.s798
Cui J, Shen Y, Li R. Estrogen synthesis and signaling pathways during ageing: from periphery to brain. Trends in molecular medicine. 2013;19(3):197. doi:10.1016/j.molmed.2012.12.007
Malik R, Pokeria C, Singh S. Correlation of Menopausal Symptoms with Serum Estradiol: A Study in Urban Indian Postmenopausal Women. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of India. 2021;72(4):322. doi:10.1007/s13224-021-01518-6
Fasero M, Sanchez M, Baquedano L, et al. Management of menopausal hot flushes. Recommendations from the Spanish Menopause Society. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology: X. 2025;25:100366. doi:10.1016/j.eurox.2025.100366
Ji MX, Yu Q. Primary osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Chronic Diseases and Translational Medicine. 2015;1(1):9. doi:10.1016/j.cdtm.2015.02.006
van Oostwaard M. Osteoporosis and the Nature of Fragility Fracture: An Overview. In: Hertz K, Santy-Tomlinson J, eds. Fragility Fracture Nursing: Holistic Care and Management of the Orthogeriatric Patient. Springer; 2018. Accessed September 18, 2025. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK543829/
Crandall CJ, Larson JC, LaCroix AZ, et al. Risk of Subsequent Fractures in Postmenopausal Women After Nontraumatic vs Traumatic Fractures. JAMA Internal Medicine. 2021;181(8):1055. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2021.2617
Keen MU, Barnett MJ, Anastasopoulou C. Osteoporosis in Females. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2025. Accessed September 18, 2025. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559156/
Cannoletta M, Cagnacci A. Modification of blood pressure in postmenopausal women: role of hormone replacement therapy. International Journal of Women’s Health. 2014;6:745. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S61685
Phan BAP, Toth PP. Dyslipidemia in women: etiology and management. International Journal of Women’s Health. 2014;6:185. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S38133
Russell JK, Jones CK, Newhouse PA. The Role of Estrogen in Brain and Cognitive Aging. Neurotherapeutics. 2019;16(3):649. doi:10.1007/s13311-019-00766-9
Beam CR, Kaneshiro C, Jang JY, Reynolds CA, Pedersen NL, Gatz M. Differences Between Women and Men in Incidence Rates of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. Journal of Alzheimer’s disease : JAD. 2018;64(4):1077. doi:10.3233/JAD-180141
Toro CA, Zhang L, Cao J, Cai D. Sex Differences in Alzheimer’s Disease: Understanding the Molecular Impact. Brain research. 2019;1719:194. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2019.05.031
Alblooshi S, Taylor M, Gill N. Does menopause elevate the risk for developing depression and anxiety? Results from a systematic review. Australasian Psychiatry. 2023;31(2):165. doi:10.1177/10398562231165439
Oizumi R, Sugimoto Y, Aibara H. The Potential of Exercise on Lifestyle and Skin Function: Narrative Review. JMIR Dermatology. 2024;7:e51962. doi:10.2196/51962
Carlson K, Nguyen H. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2025. Accessed September 18, 2025. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559297/
Waetjen LE, Crawford SL, Chang PY, et al. Factors associated with developing vaginal dryness symptoms in women transitioning through menopause: a longitudinal study. Menopause (New York, NY). 2018;25(10):1094. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000001130
Hernández-Angeles C, Castelo-Branco C. Early menopause: A hazard to a woman’s health. The Indian Journal of Medical Research. 2016;143(4):420. doi:10.4103/0971-5916.184283
Faubion SS, Kuhle CL, Shuster LT, Rocca WA. Long-term health consequences of premature or early menopause and considerations for management. Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society. 2015;18(4):483. doi:10.3109/13697137.2015.1020484
Minaković I, Zvekić-Svorcan J, Janković T, Vuksanović M, Mikić D, Bošković K. Early Menopause and Risk of Fractures–A Preventable Gap. Iranian Journal of Public Health. 2023;52(3):534. doi:10.18502/ijph.v52i3.12136
Disclaimer: The information mentioned in this document is only suggestive /for patient education and shall not be considered as a substitute for doctor’s advice or recommendations from Abbott. Please consult your doctor for more information.
