Abril Burgueño Ontiveros

Hormonal regulation in women plays a fundamental role not only in reproductive physiology, but also in metabolic and cardiovascular homeostasis throughout life. Recent scientific evidence demonstrates that endocrine transitions and hormonal disorders influence endothelial function, lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity, inflammatory pathways, adipose tissue distribution, and long-term cardiovascular risk. This review aimed to analyze the systemic effects of female hormonal regulation beyond reproduction, emphasizing its relationship with metabolic and cardiovascular health through an interdisciplinary perspective integrating gynecology, endocrinology, cardiology, and public health. A narrative and integrative literature review methodology was employed using peer-reviewed scientific publications indexed in internationally recognized databases, including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Contemporary evidence related to menopause, polycystic ovary syndrome, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, hormonal therapies, endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance, and cardiometabolic disease was analyzed and synthesized. The reviewed evidence demonstrated that menopause is strongly associated with endothelial dysfunction, visceral adiposity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and increased cardiovascular risk. Polycystic ovary syndrome was identified as a multisystemic endocrine-metabolic disorder closely linked to obesity, chronic inflammation, hyperandrogenism, and future risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Additionally, pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders such as preeclampsia and gestational hypertension were associated with elevated long-term risk of chronic hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease. Hormonal therapies and contraceptive methods demonstrated both beneficial vascular effects and potential thrombotic risks depending on patient characteristics and individualized cardiovascular profiles.

Aging is associated with a progressive increase in chronic low-grade inflammation, known as inflammaging, which has been identified as a key mechanism underlying the development of multimorbidity. This review aims to analyze the role of inflammaging in aging and its impact across internal medicine, immunology, and gynecology. A structured narrative review was conducted using high-impact scientific literature, focusing on biological mechanisms, clinical implications, and interdisciplinary perspectives. The findings indicate that inflammaging is driven by interconnected processes such as immune dysregulation, cellular senescence, mitochondrial dysfunction, metabolic imbalance, and hormonal changes. These mechanisms contribute to the development of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disorders, type 2 diabetes, frailty, neurodegeneration, and postmenopausal alterations. Additionally, inflammatory biomarkers such as IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP were consistently associated with disease progression. The results also highlight the importance of lifestyle interventions, metabolic control, and emerging geroscience-based therapies in modulating chronic inflammation. Overall, inflammaging represents a central biological axis that links aging with multimorbidity, supporting the need for integrated and preventive approaches in clinical practice.