Study links premature menopause to musculoskeletal pain and sarcopenia risks

There is an association between premature menopause and risks of musculoskeletal pain and sarcopenia, according to a recent study published in Menopause, the journal of The Menopause Society.

Takeaways

1. Premature menopause is associated with an increased risk of musculoskeletal pain and sarcopenia, according to a study published in Menopause.
2. Musculoskeletal discomfort, including muscle stiffness, becomes more prevalent among women transitioning through menopause, especially those experiencing premature menopause.
3. The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation highlights a significant rise in muscle stiffness complaints during menopause, affecting over half of US women aged 40 to 55.
4. Premature surgical menopause, characterized by a sudden and complete loss of ovarian hormones, poses a greater risk for musculoskeletal pain and sarcopenia compared to natural menopause.
5. Hormone therapy until the natural age of menopause may help mitigate some adverse long-term effects of early estrogen loss, as suggested by Stephanie Faubion, MD, MBA, medical director for The Menopause Society.

Musculoskeletal pain is a common symptom of menopause, making it more prevalent in women than men. While this gap is especially common among patients aged approximately 50 years, the recent survey indicated increased muscle stiffness among patients with premature menopause.

The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation evaluated multiple symptoms associated with the menopause transition. Results indicated a rise in muscle stiffness complaints during menopause, with 54% of women aged 40 to 55 years in the United States impacted.

A significant decrease in ovarian hormone levels is observed during menopause, and this decrease is even greater when menopause occurs prematurely. Women with premature menopause also experienced a significant decrease in testosterone levels.

With these facts in mind, investigators conducted a new study to evaluate the association between menopause type and muscle discomfort and function in late-postmenopausal women aged 55 years and older. Nearly 650 women were included in the analysis.

Results indicated an increased risk of musculoskeletal discomfort and sarcopenia among women with premature surgical menopause vs those with natural menopause when aged 45 years and older. This led investigators to conclude hormone deficiency is more significantly linked to pain and muscle mass loss than chronologic age among late-postmenopausal women.

“This study highlights the potential long-term musculoskeletal effects of premature surgical menopause, which causes a more abrupt and complete loss of ovarian hormones, including estrogen and testosterone, than natural menopause,” said Stephanie Faubion, MD, MBA, medical director for The Menopause Society.

“The use of hormone therapy until the natural age of menopause has the potential to mitigate some of the adverse long-term effects of early estrogen loss,” Faubion added.

Reference

Premature menopause linked to increased musculoskeletal pain and likelihood of sarcopenia. The Menopause Society. May 1, 2024. Accessed May 1, 2024. https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/press-release/muscle-disorders-associated-with-type-of-menopause.pdf