Experts sceptical about menopause 'cliff-like' decline study findings

Key points

• A study published in Nature Medicine claims menopause brings sudden, cliff-like changes across many body systems rather than gradual ones. The researchers analysed more than 300 million laboratory tests from over 1 million women in the United States and Israel.
• Australian experts, including Martha Hickey, have called the claim unnecessarily alarming and questioned the study's methods. The study found that changes in many body systems began about 15 years before menopause.
• It also suggested menopausal hormone therapy may reduce sudden changes in bone, liver and kidney function. All experts agreed more research is needed.