Ovarian Hormone Regulation of Central and Cerebrovascular Hemodynamics (NoMEN Study)

Inclusion Criteria: Healthy premenopausal, early perimenopausal and postmenopausal women will be recruited. Premenopausal women will have regular menstrual cycles, with no change in observed cycle length (21-35 days), confirmed by menstrual cycle calendars. Early perimenopausal will be defined as a change in cycle length of \>7 days from normal with no skipped periods and/or a FSH \<25 IU/L (with discretion of the study MD). Postmenopausal women will have gone through natural (i.e., non-surgical) menopause with \>12 months but \<6 years of amenorrhea. We will make a major effort to ensure that the women enrolled in this study come from all races and ethnicities and a wide range of socioeconomic and educational levels. Exclusion Criteria: * Seated resting blood pressure \>140/90 mmHg * Use of medications that might influence cardiovascular function or cerebral blood flow; * Pregnant, currently breastfeeding or intention to become pregnant in the next 6 months; * Use of menopausal therapy or hormonal contraceptives, etc. within the previous 3 months or intent to start during the study period; * BMI \>39 kg/m2; * Vigorous intensity exercise \>2 days per week; * Any current or past history of systemic illness that would interfere with study outcomes such as: diabetes, cancer (other than melanoma), liver, gallbladder disease, peripheral artery disease or thromboembolism, neurological disease, CVD or cerebrovascular disease; * Abnormal thyroid, liver, or kidney function testing during the screening examination or bloodwork; * Plasma glucose \>126 mg/dl under fasting conditions; * Smoking or living with a smoker within the past 12 months; * Current or planned participation in an interventional study during the present study or unwillingness to complete study-related procedures; * Patients who report active acute systemic infection (e.g., flu, common cold, etc), fever (\> 100.0 °F) or feeling ill will be asked to delay vascular testing until they are no longer febrile or ill. Additionally, anyone who has experienced a serious illness (requiring hospitalization) within the last 6 months, had a confirmed positive COVID test and hospitalized, or anyone with a confirmed positive COVID test within the last 6 months will be ineligible to participate (discretion of the study PI and MD). * No use of vitamin/supplements or chronic use of anti-inflammatory medications, or willingness to stop 1 month prior to the vascular visit. In premenopausal women participating in the intervention: * Contraindications to Degarelix including hypersensitivity to degarelix acetate, extrinsic peptide hormones, mannitol, GnRH, benzyl alcohol (the vehicle for injection of degarelix acetate) * Undiagnosed vaginal bleeding * Osteopenia or osteoporosis (i.e., proximal femur or lumbar spine DXA Z scores \<-1.0) * CES-D score ≥16 (unless clinician follow-up and clinical judgement determine they are eligible (will be noted in study chart)