The immune system in menopause: pros and cons of hormone therapy

J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2014 Jul:142:171-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2013.09.003. Epub 2013 Sep 13.

Abstract

With aging, a general decline in immune function is observed leading to immune-senescence. Several of these changes are gender specific affecting postmenopausal women. Menopause is a normal part of a woman's lifecycle and consists of a series of body changes that can last from one to ten years. It is known that loss of sex hormones due to aging results in a reduction of immune functions. However, there remains a major gap in our understanding regarding the loss of immune functions particularly in the female reproductive tract (FRT) following menopause and the role of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) in protecting against immune senescence. The current review presents an overview of changes in the immune system due to aging, focusing on genital tract immunity in menopausal women and the risks and benefits of using MHT. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Menopause'.

Keywords: Estrogen; Female reproductive tract; HIV; Immunity; Menopausal hormone therapy; Menopause; Progesterone.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity / drug effects
  • Adult
  • Aging / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Estradiol / physiology
  • Estrogen Replacement Therapy
  • Female
  • Genitalia, Female / drug effects
  • Genitalia, Female / immunology
  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones / deficiency
  • Humans
  • Immune System / drug effects
  • Immune System / physiopathology*
  • Immunity, Innate / drug effects
  • Infections / immunology
  • Menopause / immunology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Progesterone / physiology
  • Vaccination / adverse effects

Substances

  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones
  • Progesterone
  • Estradiol