Quillen, Jaxon

Introduction Advancements in transplant care have led to an increasing number of women with solid organ transplantation (SOT) living through peri- and postmenopause. Menopause can significantly impact quality of life, and the added burden of SOT may exacerbate symptoms. Few studies have evaluated the menopausal experience in this population, and existing data rarely use validated questionnaires. Research Question This study aimed to characterize menopausal symptoms and menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) use in peri- and postmenopausal SOT recipients using validated measures. Design A cross-sectional survey study of female patients ≥18 years who underwent SOT between 2018 and 2023 was conducted at a tertiary transplant center. A reproductive and sexual health questionnaire incorporating validated instruments, including the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), was administered. Results Among peri- and postmenopausal SOT recipients ( n = 192), 8.9% reported use of MHT. The median MRS total score was 8.0, consistent with mild-to-moderate symptom severity overall. Symptom severity differed by menopausal status for vasomotor symptoms ( P =.03), sleep disturbances ( P = .04), depressive mood ( P = .04), and anxiety ( P <.001), with perimenopausal participants generally reporting more symptoms in these domains than postmenopausal participants. Despite these differences, overall symptom severity remained mild to moderate in both groups. Conclusion Menopausal symptoms among female SOT recipients are common but generally mild to moderate, with low utilization of MHT. The lack of increased vasomotor burden compared to prior literature may reflect under-recognition or misattribution of symptoms to transplant-related factors. Incorporating menopause-specific screening into transplant care may improve symptom recognition, quality of life, and long-term health outcomes.

ABSTRACT Background As survival following solid organ transplantation (SOT) improves, attention has shifted to survivorship and quality of life (QoL) outcomes. Sexual function is an important component of women's health in transplant recipients. In the general population, sexual distress affects approximately 10%–15% of midlife women. Female SOT recipients may experience additional risk for sexual dysfunction related to surgery, body image, and immunosuppression. However, sexual health in this population remains understudied. This study assessed sexual function and its impact on QoL among female SOT recipients by menopausal status. Methods A cross‐sectional study of female SOT recipients aged ≥ 18 years was conducted at a single tertiary transplant center from 2018 to 2023. Participants were within five years of kidney, liver, or pancreas transplantation. Validated questionnaires included female sexual function index (FSFI), female sexual distress scale (FSDS), menopause rating scale (MRS), linear analog scale assessment (LASA). Respondents were categorized as premenopausal or peri/postmenopausal. Sexual function, distress, and QoL were compared between groups, with exploratory analyses stratified by current sexual activity status. Results The survey response rate was approximately 30%. Among 277 respondents, peri/postmenopausal patients were less likely to be sexually active (48.9% vs 69.4%, p = 0.002). They reported lower desire, arousal, and lubrication scores, and higher sexual distress than premenopausal SOT recipients. While overall QoL was rated highly across both groups, sexual distress negatively correlated with QoL across menopausal groups. Among the entire cohort, most women (≈74%) had not been asked about sexual health by any provider in the past year. Conclusion Sexual dysfunction is common among female SOT recipients and is associated with menopausal status, with higher rates observed than those reported in the general population. These findings highlight the importance of integrating sexual health into posttransplant survivorship care.