Sympathetic Vascular Transduction Across the Menopause Transition: Contributing Mechanisms

Sympathetic Vascular Transduction Across the Menopause Transition: Contributing Mechanisms

The investigators aim to assess the interactions between the sympathetic nervous system and the vasculature in women across the menopause transition to better understand why aging women have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Assigned female at birth
• 18-70 years of age
• Body mass index (BMI) <30 kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria:

• Assigned male at birth
• Pregnancy, breastfeeding
• Body mass index ≥30 kg/m2
• Oral hormonal contraception in last 6 months, history of hormone replacement therapy, oophorectomy
• Current smoking/nicotine use
• Increased risk of bleeding, pro-coagulant disorders, clotting disorders, anticoagulation therapy
• Nerve/neurologic disease
• Cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, respiratory disease
• Blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg
• Diabetes, Polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Communication barriers
• Prescription medications