Study Finds Menopause Symptoms Can Be PredictedThe 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 |
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SkyNewswire.com - Causes Early Menopause In Women - Retirement and Retirement and Senior Citizens : Causes Early Menopause In Women. Posted by Joanne on 2007/12/9 14:56:53 (188 reads) News by the same author What Are The Causes Of Menopause? What Are The Causes Of Menopause? The onset of premature menopause can be caused by a number of different conditions and treatments. What Causes Early Menopause In Women? Find out why some women go through menopause early. We cover natural early menopause, artificial climacteric, and disorders associated with premature Menopause There are several causes of menopause. Women who have premature menopause often have autoimmune disorders like thyroid disease or diabetes mellitus. andhracafe.com - Smoking may cause early menopause Smoking may cause early menopause - London, July 23 (IANS) Regular smoking can lead to early onset of menopause, Norwegian scientists say. Early menopause and itâ™s causes | Menopause Lifestyle Most women expect to continue having a monthly period and be able to have children well into their 40s, though maybe with greater difficulty. MenoSureâ„¢ - Reversing the Root Cause of Menopause! Discover The Doctor-Approved Formula Guaranteed To Safely Remedy Menopause Symptoms. Menopause. What causes the menopause? Symptoms. Health risks The word menopause literally means the end of menstruation. It is a natural part of the ageing process. Every woman who has periods will go through the Causes of Menopause - WrongDiagnosis.com Causes of Menopause including triggers, underlying medical cause of Menopause, risk factors, and what causes Menopause. Menopause No matter what age you are, having a hysterectomy (in which both ovaries are removed) causes the menopause to happen instantly. If the ovaries are destroyed Menopause causes and symptoms by Lorna Vanderhaeghe Menopause causes and symptoms by Lorna Vanderhaeghe. Menopause - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment for the Hormonal Consumer health resource center providing a, thorough overview, symptoms, causes, treatments, exams, tests, and additional links. Consequences And Causes Of Menopause A small percent of women experience premature menopause and the causes are smoking, life at high altitudes, or lack of pregnancy. BBC NEWS | Health | Gene defect 'causes early menopause' Scientists have discovered a genetic fault which could cause women to go through an early menopause. Menopause and Perimenopause-Cause Natural and expected hormone changes cause perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause.PerimenopauseAs you age, your body begins the natural sequence of CAUSES This is one of the most common causes of early menopause -- and often one of the most difficult to deal with, since you are coping with the fallout from Hysterectomy: Does it cause early menopause? - Revolution Health Revolution Health is a trusted source for menopause and perimenopause information, covering covering symptoms, causes, risks, treatments and types. Menopause information - causes of menopause Menopause occurs when the ovaries are totally depleted of eggs and no amount of stimulation from the regulating hormones can force them to work. What Causes Menopause & Causes Early Menopause What causes menopause and what causes early menopause and menopause symptoms? Find physician-based answers to health questions about what causes early |
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