Menopause--challenges for future research.

Abstract

Menopause is a transition in women's lives with biological, personal, social, and cultural dimensions that together influence women's health. Scientists have not yet integrated the perspectives of multiple disciplines to provide a full account of women's experiences. Studies are underway to assess the effects of hormonal therapies used to treat symptoms that may be related to menopause or to prevent future disease. These studies will provide information women need to weigh the benefits and risks associated with hormone therapy. Although the biological dimensions of menopause warrant further study, the behavioral, social, and cultural dimensions also merit further attention. Moreover, there has been limited use of integrative perspectives, and as a result, the possibilities of cultural effects on biological processes of midlife remained understudied. The concerns of women who have been invisible, e.g., women of color, need to be brought into focus. Challenges in developing or refining methods for human research lie in studies that span the traditional disciplinary boundaries to create a more complete account of menopause and health.