Menopause and Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Women's Health
• Reproductive Endocrinology

Background:

• Limited research exists on menopause's impact on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) symptom severity and progression.
• Menopause involves ovarian function cessation and declining reproductive hormones, significantly affecting women's health.
• Understanding these impacts is crucial for managing IBD and menopause symptoms concurrently.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize current evidence on the effects of menopause, its transition, and hormonal therapy (HT) in women with IBD.
• To examine the influence on disease activity, IBD symptom severity, and overall disease progression.
• To identify gaps in knowledge regarding menopause and IBD interactions.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review adhering to PRISMA guidelines was conducted.
• Five databases were searched without date restrictions, and data extraction/risk-of-bias assessment were performed by multiple reviewers.
• Results were qualitatively synthesized to provide a comprehensive overview.

Main Results:

• Women with IBD experience menopause earlier than healthy controls.
• While most IBD patients reported no postmenopausal symptom changes, some experienced worsening symptoms.
• Hormonal therapy (HT) showed mixed results regarding IBD risk but may reduce flare severity; women with IBD reported more severe vulvovaginal symptoms.

Conclusions:

• The relationship between menopause and IBD is under-researched.
• Continued investigation into IBD disease activity and menopause symptoms is essential.
• Tailored interventions are needed to improve women's health with IBD throughout their lifespan.