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Late-Breaking Scientific Oral Presentations

Rhinology/Allergy

Session: Late Breaking Scientific Orals 3

Effect of Menopausal Hormonal Changes on Nasal Mucociliary Clearance

Monday, October 13, 2025

4:36 PM - 4:42 PM EDT

Location: 233-234

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the nasal mucociliary clearance (NMC) time in premenopausal and menopausal women and to investigate its relationship with hormonal parameters and body mass index (BMI).

Methods: A total of 50 women were enrolled, including 25 premenopausal and 25 menopausal participants. Saccharin test was used to measure NMC time. Serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol (E2) were recorded. BMI categories were also noted. Comparative analysis between the two groups was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Correlations between NMC time and hormone levels were assessed via Spearman’s correlation coefficient.

Results: NMC time was significantly shorter in the premenopausal group compared to the menopausal group (p < 0.001). FSH and LH levels were significantly higher in menopausal women, while E2 levels were higher in the premenopausal group (all p < 0.001). A strong negative correlation was found between NMC time and FSH (ρ = –0.51) and LH (ρ = –0.62), whereas E2 showed a strong positive correlation with NMC time (ρ = +0.62).

Conclusions: Nasal mucociliary clearance (NMC) time is significantly prolonged in postmenopausal women and appears to be closely linked to hormonal changes, particularly reduced estradiol levels. These findings indicate that estrogen may play a regulatory role in preserving optimal mucociliary function within the nasal epithelium. Clinicians should be aware of the potential for delayed mucociliary clearance in postmenopausal women and consider closer monitoring of this population for respiratory tract disorders, including sinonasal and middle ear infections.

Presenting Author(s)

SH

Sevinç Hepkarsi, MD

Assist. Professor
Sevinchepkarsi@gmail.Com
İzmir, Turkey

Disclosure information not submitted.
Aynur Aliyeva, MD

Neuroscience Ph.D candidate,Yeditepe University Doctoral Program,Istanbul,Turkey;
Otolaryngology RA,The Divion of the Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Bozyaka Education and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
Denver, Colorado, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Senior Author(s)

SH

Sevinç Hepkarsi, MD

Assist. Professor
Sevinchepkarsi@gmail.Com
İzmir, Turkey

Disclosure information not submitted.

Co-Author(s)

Aynur Aliyeva, MD

Neuroscience Ph.D candidate,Yeditepe University Doctoral Program,Istanbul,Turkey;
Otolaryngology RA,The Divion of the Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Bozyaka Education and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
Denver, Colorado, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
S�

Sevil Çiçek, MD

Medeniyet University Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Turkey

Disclosure information not submitted.