Research Proposal

Menopause is a period of time when menstrual cycles permanently cease due to natural depletion of ovarian oocytes from aging. This marks the end of a woman’s reproductive period and since a woman is born with a finite number of eggs which are stored in the ovaries, these ovaries help produce hormones such as progesterone and estrogen. These hormones help to control ovulation and menstruation during the ovulating and menstruating periods. Menopause usually occurs for women after the age of 40, however, many women go through menopause before the age of 40, which is called premature menopause. Premature menopause also can occur through the medium of women doing surgery such as hysterectomy or if women have a damage to their ovaries via the result of chemotherapy. Premature menopause can also in turn be the result of genetic disorders or autoimmune disorders.

Menopause is relieved through many treatments and one of the gold treatments used in the world, is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). This therapy is a treatment used to help augment the body’s natural hormone levels, either in the form of estrogen alone therapy for women who have had a hysterectomy or as estrogen with progesterone therapy for women who experience menopause naturally at midlife. The main purpose behind using HRT is the replacement of hormones. Hormones play a vital role during menopause and hence in addition to thickening the lining of uterus to help prepare the uterus for egg implantation, is the fact that estrogen and progesterone serve many functions in the body. They help with the processing of calcium, aid in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels and most importantly keep the vagina healthy. The onset of menopause can boost the risk of osteoporosis. Women experience accelerated bone loss at a rate of 3-5% per year for about 5-7 years following menopause. HRT has shown effects in the prevention of post-menopausal osteoporosis and fracture however a study performed demonstrated that HRT patients do have an increased risk of CVD and breast cancer, this has outweighed the benefit of osteoporosis.  

Soy, on the other hand, has also been presented with an increased risk of breast cancer however it is the amount of isoflavones in soy that make the major effect on the breasts in terms of soy’s effect on breast cancer. Soy or soy isoflavones exert their effects on bone by suppressing bone resorption, while at the same time, stimulating bone formation. Soy helps stimulate osteoblastic production of the component osteoprotegerin, this in turn prevents  the differentiation and activation of the osteoclasts as well as inhibits bone resorption. They help increase the productions of insulin like growth factors which is a marker enhancing the osteoblastic activity and is correlated with bone formation. This has shown to be a marker of prevention of osteoporosis in women post menopause.