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Connecting microbiome and menopause for healthy ageing

Understanding the interplay between the microbiome and menopause holds promise for new interventions to alleviate menopausal symptoms and improve quality of life for women.

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Fig. 1: Vaginal microbiota vary in women across the lifespan.
Fig. 2: Microbiome axes in healthy ageing and menopause.

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful to the members of the Herbst-Kralovetz laboratory and clinical collaborators for discussions related to this topic. We apologize to authors whose work was not included herein due to space limitations. M.M.H.-K. is funded by the Flinn Foundation (no. 2244), Banner Foundation Women Inspiring Science and Health (WISH), and the National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute (U54CA143924). We would also like to thank all of the women who have participated in our past and ongoing studies that will aid in enhancing our understanding of the microbiome and menopause.

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Correspondence to Melissa M. Herbst-Kralovetz.

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M.M.H.-K. is a paid consultant for Freya Biosciences. None of this work related to, was shared with, or was licensed to this company or any other commercial entity. P.Ł. declares no competing interests.

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Łaniewski, P., Herbst-Kralovetz, M.M. Connecting microbiome and menopause for healthy ageing. Nat Microbiol 7, 354–358 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-022-01071-6

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