Menopause: More Than a Hormonal Transition

Menopause has traditionally been viewed as a gradual biological transition, characterized by declining oestrogen levels and progressive changes in reproductive function. However, research published in Nature Medicine in October 2026 challenges this understanding, suggesting that menopause represents a distinct physiological turning point affecting multiple organ systems.

Pridham and colleagues investigated how physiological changes unfold before, during and after the final menstrual period (FMP). Their findings reveal widespread, abrupt changes in laboratory biomarkers around menopause, alongside hormonal disturbances beginning considerably earlier than previously recognized.