GoKawiilResearchers find postmenopausal ovaries remain molecularly active, not dormant
Northwestern University reproductive biologist Francesca Duncan studied ovarian tissue from postmenopausal women aged 50 to 75 and found the protein composition varied significantly across age groups, rather than staying static as assumed. The findings suggest the ovary continues undergoing biological changes for decades after fertility and hormone production have ended.
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The results challenge the long-held assumption that postmenopausal ovaries are inert tissue with no remaining function, which could reshape how doctors think about the organ's role in aging and disease risk. Earlier research already linked removal of healthy ovaries to higher risks of dementia, cardiovascular disease, and premature death, so understanding what these ongoing molecular changes do could inform future medical guidance on ovary preservation and women's long-term health.
- Postmenopausal ovaries show significant molecular differences across the 50-75 age range, not the inertness previously assumed.
- Scientists don't yet know whether these ongoing changes benefit or harm women's health after menopause.
- Past evidence already links removal of healthy ovaries to increased dementia, cardiovascular disease, and premature death risk.
Source: wired.com — Emily Mullin, 2026-09-24
Published there as: “The Ovary Is Surprisingly Active After Menopause. Scientists Are Trying to Figure Out Why”
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