Barro Fiuza, MauroLã, Filipa M.B.Coronado, PluvioRoberto, Magda Sofia2025-09-242025-09-242025-05-31Mauro B. Fiuza, Filipa M.B. Lã, Pluvio J. Coronado, Magda Sofia Roberto (2025). The Effects of Menopause on Vocal Folds’ Vibratory Characteristics of Female Professional Voice Users, Journal of Voice, 2025, ISSN 0892-1997, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2025.05.014.0892-1997https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2025.05.014https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14468/30120Este es el manuscrito aceptado del artículo. La versión registrada fue publicada por primera vez en Journal of Voice, 2025, está disponible en línea en el sitio web del editor: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2025.05.014This is the accepted manuscript of the article. The registered version was first published in Journal of Voice, 2025, is available online at the publisher's website: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2025.05.014The authors would like to acknowledge all participants who so willingly have dedicated their time to participate in this study; the research assistants who helped with recruitment and data collection; the nurses responsible for collecting blood samples; and Sten Ternstr\u00F6m, for consultancy on recording equipment and procedure. Also, this study was not possible without the financial support given by the following grants and entities: (i) Programa de Atracci\u00F3n de Talento Investigador a la Comunidad de Madrid 2018-T1/HUM-12172; (ii) Ayudas para Contratos Predoctorales para el Desarrollo de Tesis Doctorales UNED-Santander 2022 and 2023; (iii) Ayudas de Movilidad Internacional del Banco Santander\u2014UNED; and (iv) Theramex Spain, supporting blood sample analysis.Introduction Menopause has been associated with changes in the vocal folds; however, whether these changes impact on vocal folds’ oscillation and collision patterns is still unknown. Materials and Methods Phonation and collision threshold pressures (PTP and CTP, respectively) were compared between premenopausal and postmenopausal female professional voice users (FPVUs), allocated into levels 1 and 2 according to professional use of their voice (ie, singers/singing teachers and schoolteachers, respectively). Audio, electroglottographic, and intraoral pressure signals were recorded while participants performed diminuendo sequences on the syllable /pa/ at pitches A3, E4, and A4. Hormonal profiles and self-perceived voice symptoms were also assessed. Results Voice-related menopausal symptoms were self-perceived as mild in postmenopausal FPVUs. No statistically significant differences in PTP and CTP were found between professional groups for the interaction between reproductive status (ie, premenopausal and postmenopause) and professional level (ie, singers/singing teachers and schoolteachers) for any of the analyzed pitches, despite significant differences in concentrations of pituitary hormones and estradiol. No significant correlations between hormones and voice metrics could be found. Conclusions The increasing numbers of menopausal FPVUs and the great individuality in degree of severity of menopause-related voice symptoms justify further investigations, including professional voice users, especially those complaining of more severe menopause-related voice symptoms.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess58 PedagogíaartículoFemale professional voice usersVocal folds’ oscillation patternsPhonation threshold pressureCollision threshold pressure