The menopause transition affects every woman differently, from bone density loss and cognitive changes to sleep disruption and joint pain. As more women look for evidence-based complementary approaches during this period, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has become an area of active research.
The published evidence covers four areas relevant to menopause. In a pilot study of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, 30 HBOT sessions over three months increased bone mineral density by 18.5 %. A 2020 randomised controlled trial in healthy adults over 64 found a 20 to 38 % increase in telomere length after 60 sessions. A second trial in the same age group measured gains in global cognitive function, attention and processing speed. A skin biopsy trial recorded more collagen and elastic fibre, and fewer senescent cells. The mechanisms involved, oxygen-triggered adaptive responses, lower oxidative stress and reduced inflammation, connect directly to what changes when oestrogen declines.
The sections below give the studies, their protocols and their results, then the mechanisms, then who the evidence applies to.
Which menopause-related changes does the research cover?
Four areas have published results in adults over 60, with protocols from 30 to 60 sessions. The studies used different pressures; our comparison of mild and high-pressure HBOT covers that question.
| Area | Study | Protocol | Main result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bone health | Prospective pilot study, 20 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, median age 60.5 | 30 sessions over three months | Bone mineral density up 18.5 % |
| Cellular ageing | Randomised controlled trial, 35 healthy adults aged 64 and over (Aging, 2020) | 60 sessions, five a week over three months | Telomere length up 20 to 38 % |
| Cognitive function | Randomised controlled trial, 63 healthy adults over 64 | 60 sessions, five a week over three months | Global cognition, attention and processing speed improved |
| Skin health | Prospective clinical trial with skin biopsies before and after | 60 sessions, five a week over three months | More collagen and elastic fibre, fewer senescent cells |
What did the studies find?
Bone health and osteoporosis
The most direct evidence for menopausal women comes from osteoporosis research. A prospective study of 20 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (median age 60.5) recorded, after 30 HBOT sessions over three months:
- 18.5 % increase in bone mineral density (BMD)
- 95 % of participants with reduced lumbar spasms
- 85 % reporting a marked reduction in pain
- 75 % with improved range of motion in the lumbar spine
This was a small pilot study without a control group. The size of the bone density change is still notable, since all other osteoporosis medication was stopped during the study. More recent research from 2025 continues to document HBOT’s effects on bone formation pathways, with increased osteoblast activity and reduced bone resorption. The mechanism is coherent: HBOT increases oxygen delivery to bone tissue, stimulates collagen synthesis, promotes angiogenesis and modulates the balance between bone-building osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts.
Cellular ageing: telomeres and senescent cells
A 2020 randomised controlled trial published in Aging followed 35 healthy adults aged 64 and over through 60 HBOT sessions. It measured:
- 20 to 38 % increase in telomere length across immune cell types
- 37 % reduction in senescent T-helper cells
- 11 % reduction in senescent T-cytotoxic cells
For perspective, most lifestyle interventions (diet, exercise, supplements) show effects of 2 to 5 % on telomere length. Telomeres are the protective caps on chromosomes that shorten with each cell division, a cellular ageing clock. Senescent cells stop dividing but stay in the tissue, accumulate with age and feed inflammation and tissue dysfunction. Lengthening telomeres and clearing senescent cells are two of the main levers of healthy ageing.
Cognitive function and brain health
A randomised controlled trial of 63 healthy adults over 64 found that HBOT improved:
- Global cognitive function (p = 0.0017)
- Attention (effect size 0.745)
- Information processing speed (effect size 0.788)
- Cerebral blood flow in key brain regions
The cognitive gains came with measurable increases in blood flow to the brain areas responsible for executive function and memory, and the two were correlated. For women who experience brain fog, memory lapses or difficulty concentrating during menopause, these findings are the most relevant.
Skin health: visible effects of ageing
A prospective clinical trial compared skin biopsies before and after HBOT and recorded:
- Increased collagen and elastic fibre production
- Enhanced angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation)
- Clearance of senescent cells in skin tissue
- Improved skin thickness and elasticity
These were measured changes at the tissue and cellular level, not subjective impressions. Our article on HBOT and skin ageing covers this research in detail.
Why would HBOT act on menopause-related changes?
Three mechanisms explain why HBOT shows promise for age-related concerns during menopause: an adaptive response to repeated oxygen exposure, a reduction in oxidative stress and a reduction in inflammation.
The hyperoxic-hypoxic paradox
HBOT works through repeated, intermittent oxygen exposure that triggers adaptive responses similar to those seen during hypoxia:
- Activation of HIF (hypoxia-inducible factor) pathways
- Upregulation of antioxidant genes
- Enhanced mitochondrial function
- Stem cell mobilisation
- Increased production of growth factors such as VEGF
Oxidative stress
Oestrogen acts as a potent antioxidant. When oestrogen levels fall during menopause, oxidative stress rises and contributes to many of the changes women notice:
- Cognitive changes and brain fog
- Fatigue
- Joint and muscle pain
- Accelerated skin ageing
- Increased inflammation
HBOT has been shown to reduce oxidative stress markers and increase antioxidant capacity, which addresses this underlying mechanism.
Inflammation
HBOT modulates inflammatory pathways, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines while increasing anti-inflammatory mediators. Chronic low-grade inflammation increases during menopause and contributes to several of its effects, so this action is relevant too.
Who is HBOT most relevant for during menopause?
On current evidence, HBOT is most appropriately considered by menopausal women who are:
- Dealing with osteoporosis or osteopenia, where the evidence is most direct
- Interested in a comprehensive healthy ageing strategy, given the cellular ageing results
- Experiencing cognitive changes, where controlled trials show improvement
- Looking to support their overall health through the transition, as part of a multifaceted approach
The protocols in these studies rely on regular sessions over several months, which a mild hyperbaric chamber at home makes practical.
Key takeaways
- Bone density rose 18.5 % in postmenopausal women after 30 sessions, in a small pilot study.
- Telomere length rose 20 to 38 % and senescent T-helper cells fell 37 % after 60 sessions, in a randomised controlled trial.
- Global cognition, attention and processing speed improved in a second controlled trial, alongside cerebral blood flow.
- Skin biopsies showed more collagen and elastic fibre and fewer senescent cells.
- The mechanisms (adaptive oxygen response, lower oxidative stress, lower inflammation) match what changes when oestrogen declines.
About this article: this piece is based on a review of published research, including randomised controlled trials, prospective studies and systematic reviews. The claims are supported by peer-reviewed literature. This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace a consultation with a qualified healthcare provider.
Key references
- Hassan et al. (2022). Applications of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Osteoporosis. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 11(1), 32-42.
- Hachmo et al. (2020). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases telomere length and decreases immunosenescence. Aging, 12(22), 22445-22456.
- Hadanny et al. (2020). Cognitive enhancement of healthy older adults using hyperbaric oxygen: a randomized controlled trial. Aging, 12(13), 13740-13761.
- Hachmo et al. (2021). The effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on the pathophysiology of skin aging. Aging, 13(22), 24500-24510.
- Hadanny et al. (2024). Physical enhancement of older adults using hyperbaric oxygen: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Geriatrics, 24, 572.
More studies by goal are available in the Oxygenome research library.