Women in Healthy Transition

Research on menopause

Research into women’s health has been overlooked for centuries, and even though new studies are slowly emerging, a huge knowledge gap exists. Especially research into the menopause is very limited despite the menopause being something that will affect all women worldwide in one way or another – bringing hot flashes, sleep problems or mood swings; an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis or vaginal dryness; changes in body perception, in short-term memory or coordination.

All women will experience their own version of the menopause, and all the possible changes are naturally of great importance to women as individuals, to their families and friends, workplaces and society as a whole.

Lately, we have been trying to highlight the lack of insight into the menopause – with success. We have been overwhelmed by the number of journalists, general practitioners, researchers from everywhere and especially ordinary Danish women who support the project – to raise our level of knowledge about women and the menopause to an acceptable level. We call the project Women in Healthy Transition. Women, their close relations, general practitioners and researchers all lack knowledge and information.

We know that the menopause causes a drastic drop in oestrogen, which has significant health impacts, including a markedly increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. But there is a lack of scientific research into what happens in women’s bodies during the menopause; in the cardiovascular system, in the brain and in the heart. The menopause also negatively impacts women’s quality of life, and for many women the menopause is a period of severe discomfort, challenging their self-identity and working life. We lack knowledge about how bodily changes affect menopausal women in Denmark mentally and socially, and how social structures, for example our healthcare system and our workplaces, have an impact on how Danish women cope with the menopause.

We also lack knowledge about how we can prevent the direct negative risks associated with the menopause, such as the risk of cardiovascular diseases, depression, lower self-esteem and sleep disturbances. We have an assumption that regular physical activity can have a positive effect, but, in fact, our latest research shows that the absence of oestrogen during the menopause means that physical activity is almost without effect in the years after the menopause. There is consequently a need for research that addresses the complexity of the menopause if we want to help women stay health around and after the menopause through understanding and coping strategies.

There is a giant potential both nationally and internationally for making a significant difference to an enormous group of people over an extended number of years, while also combating gender health inequalities. It is therefore crucial to promote and disseminate research into the menopause.

Vision of the network

The vision behind the network is to create an epicentre for research into the menopause aimed at initiating evidence-based research into everything right from basic physiology to the complexity of women’s social and mental lives, for the benefit of the individual woman and society as a whole.

Network Mission: Advancing Menopause Research

Our mission to gather leading Danish researchers with an interest in women and the menopause in order to create the best opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration across academic environments, research disciplines and sectors. Our network will stimulate the development of new research ideas and provide a foundation for collaboration on submission of applications, which can ensure a solid foundation from which research into the menopause can be taken to a new level. We will host public seminars, scientific conferences, and PhD courses. It is also an important mission to follow and influence trends in society, political agendas and funding strategies to increase the level of knowledge about the menopause.

The network mission is to:

  • Gather leading Danish researchers conducting research into women and the menopause
  • Create the best opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration across environments, disciplines and sectors
  • Stimulate the development of new research ideas and collaboration on applications
  • Host seminars, conferences and PhD courses
  • Monitor and influence trends in society, political agendas and funding strategies.

We adopt long-term perspectives in our work to make a significant difference within this field. We embrace everything from small-scale short-term intervention studies to large-scale long-term studies with 20-year perspectives, all with the same goal in mind.

Read more about the research project (in Danish)

Contact

Lasse Gliemann
Associate Professor, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports
gliemann@nexs.ku.dk 

  • Ylva Hellsten (yhellsten@nexs.ku.dk): Professor, NEXS UCPH SCIENCE - Expert in circulatory function, physical activity and the menopause
  • Anne Yäel Nossent (nossent@nexs.ku.dk): Associate Professor, NEXS UCPH SCIENCE - Expert in non-coding RNA, oestrogen and cerebral thrombosis
  • Signe Sørensen Torekov (torekov@sund.ku.dk): Professor, BMI UCPH SUND - Expert in metabolism, energy conversion and weight loss
  • Mette Hansen (mhan@ph.au.dk): Associate Professor, Aarhus University - Expert in muscular function, physical activity and the menopause
  • Anja Pinborg (anja.bisgaard.pinborg@regionh.dk): Professor, gynaecologist, Rigshospitalet - Expert in reproduction
  • Ellen Lykkegaard (ellen.christine.leth.loekkegaard@regionh.dk): Professor, gynaecologist, North Zealand Hospital - Expert in the treatment of the menopause
  • Maria Hybholt (maria.hybholt@sund.ku.dk): Associate Professor, IFSV UCPH SUND - The importance of the menopause for self-identity and body perception
  • Sigrid Normann Biener: (sibi@nexs.ku.dk): PhD student, IFSV UCPH SUND - Mapping of the menopause, symptoms and physical activity in Denmark
  • Andrea Sofia Tamariz-Ellemann (aste@nexs.ku.dk): PhD student, NEXS UCPH SCIENCE - How do we predict the menopause and what is its importance to the circulatory system?
  • Laura Bachmann Thomsen (lbt@nexs.ku.dk): PhD student, UCPH SCIENCE - The importance of lifestyle and physical activity to the risk of circulatory disorders in post-menopausal women