Menopause is marked by potential changes in physical condition and mental/physical imbalance before and after the permanent cessation of menstruation in women. The various problems that develop during this period are collectively referred to as “menopausal symptoms.” These symptoms are wide-ranging, including hot flashes, sweating, insomnia, and low mood, and are also characterized by large differences between individuals.
Conventional treatments include hormone replacement therapy and Chinese herbal medicine. In recent years, stem cell therapy that regenerate and activate cells from inside the body has been drawing attention as a new therapeutic option for treating such symptoms.
In this article, we organize menopausal symptoms and their causes, and explain how the use of stem cell therapy may lead to radical improvements.
Menopausal symptoms refer to the physical and mental complaints that women experience during the period of roughly 10 years around menopause (mid 40s to mid 50s) due to rapidly decreased levels of female hormones (i.e., estrogen and progesterone). Declining ovarian function and disrupted hormone secretion affects hormonal control by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, resulting in diverse physical symptoms, such as those associated with the autonomic nervous system and metabolism, and mental symptoms responsible for mental health.
Estrogen not only plays a role in female-specific menstrual and pregnancy functions but is also involved in protecting bones and blood vessels and maintaining skin and hair health. Due to a drastic drop in estrogen and progesterone levels during menopause, these functions fluctuate simultaneously; these events form the background of menopausal symptoms. *1
*1 Reference: Hisamitsu
Menopausal symptoms range from physical symptoms such as hot flashes and sweating to mental symptoms such as irritability and anxiety, and include the following specific examples:
[Physical symptoms]
[Mental symptoms]
Since these symptoms occur simultaneously, and the intensity and combination vary between individuals, early menopausal symptoms often go unnoticed or are misunderstood as fatigue or stress. *2
*2 Reference: Tomita Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic
The main cause of menopausal symptoms is a rapid decrease in the secretion of estrogen and progesterone owing to decreased ovarian function. Because the body cannot handle sudden changes in the hormonal environment, autonomic nerve and mental disorders occur.
Moreover, symptoms may become serious when the following factors are combined.
As menopausal symptoms are caused by these factors acting in a complex manner, they are characterized by very large individual differences. *3
*3 Reference: Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
The use of stem cells as a medical remedy holds promise for the treatment of menopausal symptoms.
In this section, we will introduce the background of stem cell therapy.
Stem cell therapy is currently drawing increased attention as a treatment for menopausal symptoms. It is a form of regenerative medicine that aims to repair and regenerate tissues using stem cells, which possess the ability to both self-renew and undergo multilineage differentiation. Although stem cells do not directly restore estrogen and progesterone secretion, they potentially improve the body’s homeostasis by regulating intercellular signals and exerting anti-inflammatory effects.
The following advantages can be considered the reason why stem cell therapy is attracting attention in the context of menopausal symptoms.
In addition to producing new cells in the body, stem cell therapy is also believed to improve the overall balance of the body through secreted growth factors and immunomodulatory substances. Since menopausal symptoms are caused by a combination of disruptions to the autonomic nervous system, immune system, and hormonal balance, multifaceted support is ideal. Stem cells reactivate damaged and aged tissues and suppress inflammation and immune abnormalities. Therefore, systemic improvements are expected as a feature of stem cell therapy. However, the effectiveness of the therapy vary from person to person, and it is not necessarily a clinically established treatment. Therefore, counseling and diagnosis by specialists are essential.
At the Regenerative Medicine Division of Korokai Medical Corporation, the following steps are taken when administering stem cell therapy for menopausal symptoms.
The main purpose of the conventional measures used to treat menopausal symptoms has been to provide symptomatic relief, as a rapid decrease in female hormones causes multiple symptoms to occur simultaneously. In recent years, stem cell therapy, a form of regenerative medicine, has attracted attention as a new approach to balancing the body at the cellular level. The Regenerative Medicine Division of Korokai Medical Corporation proposes comprehensive menopausal symptom care that includes stem cell therapy customized to the symptoms and lifestyle of each patient. At our hospital, we analyze the results of the patients’ blood tests and provide optimal treatment for each patient by administering bioidentical hormone replacement therapy—which uses hormones with the same chemical structure as those of human hormones—and stem cell therapy, with follow-ups every few months. If necessary, peptide therapy can also be administered.
The Regenerative Medicine Division of Korokai Medical Corporation offers stem cell-based regenerative medicine as a medical institution approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. *4
If you are interested in our approaches to stem cell therapy, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, or peptide therapy, please contact the hospital for consultation.
*4 Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
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[1] Therapeutic Method
The treatment involves harvesting and culturing stem cells from the patient’s adipose tissue and then injecting them locally to the affected area or administering them via intravenous infusion.
[2] Risk of side effects
At the time of fat collection: Adverse reactions such as internal bleeding, swelling, postoperative infection, postoperative scar, and pain at the injection site may be observed.
At the time of stem cell administration: Adverse reactions such as pain at the injection site, allergic reaction, and pulmonary embolism may be observed.
[3] Contact information
The Regenerative Medicine Division, Korokai Medical Corporation
5th floor, Precious 18, 4-14-6 Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
TEL:03-6277-4650
[4] Pricing
This treatment is a private therapeutic strategy that is not covered by public health insurance.
For culture of approximately 100–180 million stem cells
*Depending on the number of stem cell cultures obtained from each individual, it may be less than 100 million stem cells.
1 cycle costs 2.5 million yen (tax included)
3 cycles cost 7.2 million yen (payment in installments: 2.5 million yen for the first and second cycles, 2.3 million yen for the third cycle)
5 cycles cost 11.5 million yen (tax included) (payment in installments: 2.5 million yen for the first through fourth cycles, 1.5 million yen for the fifth cycle)
For culture of approximately 200–280 million stem cells
*Depending on the number of stem cell cultures obtained from each individual, it may be less than 200 million stem cells.
1 cycle costs 3.8 million yen (tax included)
3 cycles cost 11.1 million yen (tax included) (payment in installments: 3.8 million yen for the first and second cycles, 3.5 million yen for the third cycle)
5 cycles cost 17.5 million yen (tax included) (payment in installments: 3.8 million yen for the first through fourth cycles, 2.3 million yen for the fifth cycle)
Please consult us for further details.
[5] Route of acquisition
Stem cells are cultured at the affiliated CPC.
[6] Presence or absence of devices/drugs approved for the indications in Japan
No approved drugs for the indications are available in Japan.
[7] Safety information from other countries
There are no reports on safety in other countries.
*Significant risks may not have been identified.
[8] The fact that it has not been approved
Drugs used in this treatment are yet to receive approval in accordance with the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act.
[9] Unapproved drugs/devices
Public aid systems (such as Relief Systems for Adverse Drug Reactions and Infections Acquired through Biological Products) are not applicable to unapproved drugs and devices.
[10] Notification of regenerative medicine provision plans
To perform this treatment, we have submitted the notification of regenerative medicine provision plans to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in accordance with the Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine.
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Class II Regenerative Medicine Provision Plan No. PB3210146
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Class II Regenerative Medicine Provision Plan, No. PB3230187
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Class II Regenerative Medicine Provision Plan, No. PB3240017
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Class II Regenerative Medicine Provision Plan, No. PB3230218
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