Menopause, mild psychological stress and salivary cortisol: Influence of long-term hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

Patacchioli, F.R.; Simeoni, S.; Monnazzi, P.; Pace, M.; Capri, O.; Perrone, G.

doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2006.01.009

« Previous Next »Maturitas
Volume 55, Issue 2 , Pages 150-155, 20 September 2006

Menopause, mild psychological stress and salivary cortisol: Influence of long-term hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

F.R. Patacchioli
- Department of Human Physiology and Pharmacology “V.Erspamer”, S.Andrea 2nd Medical Faculty, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Italy
- Corresponding author at: Department of Human Physiology and Pharmacology “V.Erspamer”, Universitá di Roma “La Sapienza”, Pizzale Aldo Moro, 5-00185 Roma, Italy. Tel.: +39 06 49912506; fax: +39 06 49912506.
S. Simeoni
- Department of Human Physiology and Pharmacology “V.Erspamer”, S.Andrea 2nd Medical Faculty, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Italy
P. Monnazzi
- Department of Human Physiology and Pharmacology “V.Erspamer”, S.Andrea 2nd Medical Faculty, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Italy
M. Pace
- Department of Gynecology, Perinatology and Neonatology, 1st Medical Faculty, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Italy
O. Capri
- Department of Gynecology, Perinatology and Neonatology, 1st Medical Faculty, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Italy
G. Perrone
- Department of Gynecology, Perinatology and Neonatology, 1st Medical Faculty, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Italy

Received 22 July 2005; received in revised form 18 January 2006; accepted 21 January 2006.

Abstract

Objective

Aim of the present study was to examine the adrenocortical activity in basal condition and following a mild stress exposure in long-term HRT-treated menopausal women. Menopausal women, long term users of HRT (14 subjects) were compared both to menopausal women who had never used HRT (14 subjects) and young pre-menopausal women (14 subjects).

Study design

Morning and evening salivary cortisol secretion was measured in samples collected twice a day (08:00 in the morning and 08:00 in the evening). Mild stress response was evoked by administration of the Stroop color-word test (CWT). Salivary cortisol was measured immediately before the start, 15, 30 and 45min after the completion of the test.

Results

Menopause appears not to be associated with an impairment of cortisol circadian fluctuation.

Long-term use of HRT in menopause attenuated HPA activity either in basal condition or in response to mild stress exposure.

With regard to the CWT performance, all menopausal women took significantly longer than young women to perform the test. However, long-term HRT significantly reduced the number of errors made during the test.