Puberty and perimenopause: Reproductive transitions and their implications for women's health. (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hoyt, Lindsay Till; Falconi, April M.
• Is Part Of: Social science & medicine. Volume 132(2015)
• Page Start: 103
• Page End: 112
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: Puberty -- Perimenopause -- Chronic disease -- Women's health -- Life course health -- HPG axis -- HPA axis; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Medical anthropology -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine sociale -- Périodiques; Anthropologie médicale -- Périodiques; Santé publique -- Périodiques; Psychologie -- Périodiques; Médecine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.03.031
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-9536

Abstract

Abstract: This scoping review synthesizes existing research on two major transitions in females' lives: puberty and perimenopause. These two periods of vast physiological change demarcate the beginning and the end of the reproductive life cycle and are associated with major neuroendocrine reorganization across two key systems, the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Despite growing evidence suggesting that the timing and experience of puberty and perimenopause are related to various physical and mental health outcomes (e.g., mood disorders, metabolism, cardiovascular health, autoimmune conditions, and cancer), these two processes are rarely examined together. In this paper, we bridge these disparate literatures to highlight similarities, isolate inconsistencies, and identify important areas for future research in women's health. Highlights: Puberty and perimenopause involve reorganization across HPG and HPA systems. Many chronic health risks increase during both puberty and perimenopause. Environmental influences on health may intensify when hormone levels are changing. This review reveals inconsistent health consequences of lifetime estrogen exposure.