Hello
Im new to Mudcat and this is my first posting :)
Im 20 so no where near menopause yet (i hope!). Thought id have a look at some of the science stuff i have access to (Medline). Below are a few links to some interesting pages on the web and the sciency text below that is from a medical journal article. It would appear that there have been 25 papers published on the effects of menopause and the voice. None of them are available in full text on the web but if anyone would like a list of the citations so they can have a look in the library then email me and I will send them.

On the subject of HRT, bone density decreases at about 2% per year for a number of years after the menopause. HRT prevents this happening which is obviously good but the side effects and risks for breast cancer and cardiovascular disease make it less appealing. Everyone has to weigh up the risks and benefits for themselves. HRT is often recommended for women with premature menopause as they lose more bone density because of the longer time without oestrogen.

hopefully my generation of doctors will be more understanding and not shove things down peoples' throats so much. They are trying to change us....

Very interesting thread. Im interested performing arts medicine and this is sonething id not thought of before.

http://maillists.uci.edu/mailman/public/vastavox/2002-February/000280.html

http://www.asha.org/about/publications/leader-online/archives/2002/f020723.htm

http://www.shef.ac.uk/janedavidson/voiceproject.html

The female voice evolves from childhood to menopause, under the varied influences of estrogens, progesterone, and testosterone. These hormones are the dominant factor in determining voice changes throughout life.

For example, a woman's voice always develops masculine characteristics after an injection of testosterone. Such a change is irreversible.

Voice is characterized by its intensity, frequency, and harmonics. The harmonics are hormonally dependent. This is illustrated by the changes that occur during male and female puberty: In the female, the impact of estrogens at puberty, in concert with progesterone, produces the characteristics of the female voice, with a fundamental frequency one third lower than that of a child.

Vocal professionals are particularly affected by changes in the voice and In a study of 100 menopausal women, 17 presented with a menopausal vocal syndrome. To rehabilitate their voices, and thus their professional lives, patients were prescribed hormone replacement therapy and multi-vitamins. All 97 women showed signs of vocal muscle atrophy, reduction in the thickness of the mucosa and reduced mobility in the cricoarytenoid joint. Multi-factorial therapy (hormone replacement therapy and multi-vitamins) has to be individually adjusted to each case depending on body type, vocal needs, and other factors.

Women experience more frequent problems with voice emission, voice control and reaching their highest registers after menopause.