Ukrainian Journal Health of Woman. 2025. 3(178): 23-27. doi: 10.15574/HW.2025.3(178).2327
Voshkulat Y. V., Zahorodnia O. S.
Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine

For citation: Voshkulat YV, Zahorodnia OS. (2025). The effect of menopausal hormone therapy on biomarkers of systemic inflammation. Ukrainian Journal Health of Woman. 3(178): 23-27. doi: 10.15574/HW.2025.3(178).2327
Article received: Mar 17, 2025. Accepted for publication: May 21, 2025.

Aim – to evaluate the impact of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) on the levels of systemic inflammation markers (interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein) and the quality of life in postmenopausal women.
Materials and methods. A comparative analysis of 80 postmenopausal women was conducted: 40 women receiving combined MHT (estrogen + progestin) and 40 women without MHT. The serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP), quality of life using the MENQOL scale, and the prevalence of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) were assessed.
Results. The MHT group had significantly lower levels of IL-6 (3.2±1.8 vs 5.1±2.4 pg/ml) and CRP (1.8±1.2 vs 3.4±1.8 mg/l) compared to the non-MHT group. The prevalence of GSM was lower in the MHT group (15.0% vs 35.0%). Quality of life was significantly better in the MHT group across all MENQOL domains. A strong correlation was found between the levels of inflammatory markers and the severity of GSM symptoms (r=0.64-0.79).
Conclusions. Menopausal hormone therapy has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, which is confirmed by a significant reduction in the levels of key biomarkers of systemic inflammation — IL-6 and CRP. The use of MHT is associated with a decrease in the prevalence of genitourinary syndrome of menopause and a significant improvement in the quality of life of postmenopausal women in all key aspects (vasomotor, urogenital, psychosocial, and physical). There is a strong positive correlation between the levels of systemic inflammation markers (IL-6, CRP) and the severity of urogenital symptoms, which confirms the role of chronic inflammation in the pathogenesis of GSM.
The study was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The study protocol was approved by the Committee on bioethics and deontology of these institutions. The informed consent of the children's parents was obtained for the research.
No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.
Keywords: menopause, hormone therapy, interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, inflammaging, biological aging, quality of life.

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