Efficacy and Safety of Hopantenic Acid in Pediatric Neurological and Developmental Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Gender bias in health research is evident. Morbidity differs according to gender and sex, with both physiological and psychosocial variations. Despite advances in integrating the gender perspective into health sciences, an androcentric focus continues to dominate the research priorities. Consequently, it remains necessary to study and deepen understanding of the changes that occur in women's health. The climacteric is the transitional period in a woman's life from the reproductive to the non-reproductive stage. It typically occurs between the ages of 42 and 58, either physiologically or because of medical treatments (). This life phase involves numerous physical, sexual, and psychological changes that can affect quality of life (, ). The process begins with progressive irregularity in menstrual cycles, leading eventually to permanent cessation of menstruation (), with women being considered postmenopausal after 12 consecutive months without menstruation. Currently, due to increased life expectancy, it is estimated that women spend approximately 40% of their lifespan in the postmenopausal stage, which in some cases may account for up to 30 years of life (, ). A wide variety of symptoms occur during this stage. Each woman experiences her transition to menopause differently, and this transition involves a wide range of physiological, psychological, and sociocultural symptoms. It is also important to emphasize the duration of these symptoms, as in some cases they may persist for long periods and become severe (–, ). Physically, the most frequent manifestations are vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and sudden waves of heat; musculoskeletal symptoms such as joint pain due to reduced estrogen levels; sleep disturbances with nocturnal awakenings; genitourinary symptoms such as vaginal dryness and dyspareunia; memory difficulties or brain fog (, ); weight gain (, ); as well as palpitations and urinary, vaginal, and sexual problems. Psychologically, studies indicate that during the transition to menopause, women may experience lower self-esteem and greater vulnerability to depression and anxiety (). Self-care deficits also arise due to lack of knowledge about symptoms, care, and available resources during the climacteric period (, , ).