Study Finds Menopause Symptoms Can Be Predicted

The number of eggs left in a woman's ovaries are like the grains of sand in an hourglass, ticking away the hours on her biological clock.

Researchers now say they may be able to predict when that clock will wind down.

And while doctors can't actually count the number of eggs in an ovary, they can measure ovarian volume. British researchers say there's a direct correlation between the two, and by measuring ovarian volume with transvaginal ultrasound, doctors should be able to predict when menopause will set in and how many fertile years a woman has left.

According to the study authors, this information will revolutionize the care of women looking for assisted reproductive technologies, including those who were treated for childhood cancers as well as women who want to put off starting a family for whatever reason.

Although information still needs to be validated in clinical studies, its benefit is most likely to start with women who are being treated for cancer and women attending fertility clinics, said Tom Kelsey, co-author of the study appearing June 17 in the journal Human Reproduction.

"If women looking for some sort of assisted conception and their physicians know that they've got a long time till menopause, then you could plan for a range of treatments," said Kelsey, who is a senior research fellow at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. "If you knew menopause was likely in four to five years, you'd plan a different set of IVF [in vitro fertilization] treatments."

Others reiterate, however, that the findings should be treated with caution.

"Should a young woman who is 30 years old go for a test to figure out whether she's got three, five or 10 years left on her fertility? Should she make career decisions and life decisions? Are these data good enough to make those determinations?" asked Dr. Alan Copperman, director of reproductive medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. "The answer is obviously no to all of those questions. The predictive value of this test is not good enough to go and tell someone to change their life."

According to the article, eggs form in a female's ovary while she is still in the womb, peaking at several million about halfway through gestation and then starting a continuous decline. At birth, there are several hundred thousand and, when menstruation begins, about 300,000. At about age 37, a woman has about 25,000 eggs left, and at menopause only about 1,000.

The time at which menopause sets in is widely believed to be based on the number of eggs reaching a critically low threshold.

The authors of this study measured ovarian volume with transvaginal ultrasound, then looked at the relationship between ovarian volume -- ovaries shrink as a woman ages -- and number of eggs. They then applied mathematical and computer models to predict menopause.

The study authors are negotiating with a medical school to set up clinical trials. The idea would be to follow women to see if their predictions were indeed correct.

While these authors have come up with a tool to potentially help women plan their lives, a second study in the same issue of Human Reproduction warned that women might not want to leave it too late. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) could not be relied upon to fully compensate for lack of natural fertility after the age of 35, the article stated.

The authors used a computer simulation model to determine that the overall success rate of assisted reproductive technology would be 30 percent for those attempting to get pregnant from age 30, 24 percent for those trying from age 35, and 17 percent from age 40.

SOURCES: Tom Kelsey, Ph.D., senior research fellow, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland; Alan Copperman, M.D., director, reproductive medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York; June 17, 2004, Human Reproduction

best diet menopause
Top 7 Diet Scams That Won't Help You Lose Weight On a Low Carb Diet
The FTC has identified the Top 7 Diet Scams which can rob you of money but not fat. Learn how to tell if marketing is deflating your wallet by using these

Top 8 Alternative Treatments for Menopause
symptoms of menopause, as well as how lifestyle changes including diet, exercise, Calcium (1500 mg daily)--the best type of calcium is not calcium

Weight and menopause: inactivity and poor diet, rather than
Here are answers to commonly asked questions about weight and menopause. What is the best way to diet?" Eating healthy is the best way to lose weight.

Amazon.com: The Menopause Diet Mini Meal Cookbook: Books: Larrian
Her book, You Dont Have to Live With Cystitis has been a "Top Ten Best Seller" on womens . The Menopause Diet is a lifestyle diet, not a quick fix.

The Best Diet To Combat Menopause by totalactivation
Hey mate, i found an article on the net that i think it will be usefull for you , it is about The Best Diet To Combat Menopause

Amazon.com: The Menopause Diet Daily Journal: Books: Larrian Gillespie
Buy this book with The Menopause Diet by Larrian Gillespie today! . Discover the Best Books of 2007, from editors' picks to customer favorites in dozens

Peri Menopause and the 34 Menopause Symptoms?
menopause diet menopause blood test best diet during menopause menopause symtoms best diet menopause natural remedies for hot flashes the menopause diet

Can Natural Remedies for Menopause Offer a Cure For Hot Flashes?
menopause diet menopause blood test best diet during menopause menopause symtoms hormone replacement therapy thyroid hormone replacement therapy weight gain

What is the best diet and exercise after menopause? - Yahoo!7 Answers
"What is the best diet and exercise after menopause?" - Find the answer to this question and millions more on Yahoo!7 Answers.

Why soy protein is the best diet shake for women
Soy protein helps with weight management and control during menopause. The atkins diet is considered to be the best diet by most diet researchers:

Menopause Facts : The Best Menopause Diet for Healthy Middle Years
The Best Menopause Diet for Healthy Middle Years. Ask any woman who has gone through the process of menopause, and she will tell you that this stage of life

Coping with Menopause
Get facts about Skin Care, Anti-Aging Products, and Weight Loss, their role in weight loss, then take our Top 60 Diet Analysis and compare your needs to

Maintain Your Health & Well-Being During Menopause | The Diet Channel
As a woman's body enters menopause, phytoestrogens can support estrogen levels. Hormone health can be improved by including more soy and flax in the diet as

What Is The Best Diet During Menopause - The Answers Are Here
What Is The Best Diet During Menopause - The Answers Are Here.

diet, exercise and the menopause
Women's Health | Menopause & HRT | Diet, exercise and the menopause The best way to get your daily requirement is to try and sit out in the sun for

Menopause and Menopause Treatment
Eating a healthy diet and exercising at menopause and beyond are important to feeling your best. Most women do not need any special treatment for menopause.

Guide to Menopause Diet
Guide to Menopause and Diet Eating Advice to Reduce Menopausal Symptoms Diet & Weight Reduction - Guide to Menopause, Weight & Diet - Best Diet Foods For

Best Diet For Healthy Menopause
Best Diet For Menopause. Introduction. As we get older, the digestive tract becomes less efficient and digestion takes longer.


best diet menopause
menopause breast swelling
eierstockkrebs postmenopause
francisco menopause play san
menopause cause