Associations between the serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels and intervertebral disc degeneration severity during the menopausal transition

There were significant associations between elevated FSH levels and IVDD severity in women during the menopausal transition, which is beneficial for further exploring the potential mechanisms underlying postmenopausal IVDD. These findings suggest that FSH may be a novel biomarker for assessing IVDD risk in menopausal women and highlight the FSHR as a potential therapeutic target for mitigating disc degeneration.