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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Treating your body right during menopause. Treating your body right during menopause. Menopause Symptoms and Solutions Chart · Your Diet · Your Body · Medical Tests and Treatments Weight Gain After Menopause Increases Risk If you're trying to lower your breast cancer risk during menopause and after cases of breast cancer diagnosed in both groups and changes in body weight. Post-menopause - WebMD During this time, many of the symptoms of menopause ease for most women. Medication and/or healthy lifestyle changes may reduce the risk of some of the Menopause - Vaginal Changes During Perimenopause, Menopause, and Decreased lubrication, dryness and itching are often the first signs of change noticed during perimenopause or after hysterectomy surgery. IngentaConnect Physical and mental health: Changes during Physical and mental health: Changes during menopause transition. Authors: Mishra G.D.1, 2; Brown W.J.3; Dobson A.J.4. Source: Quality of Life Research, Skin Changes During Menopause by Mary Brown Skin Changes During Menopause - a free article by Mary Brown. Body Changes During Perimenopause Body Changes During Perimenopause. or more subtly as a response to a perceived loss in menstruation or in response to the approach of menopause. Healthy Life Tips - Skin Changes During Menopause During the course of the natural menopause process, many women notice surprising changes in the texture and appearance of their skin. Does Perimenopause Cause Mood Changes? A. Many factors may influence your mood during perimenopause. The cause of perimenopausal mood changes is a topic of debate among researchers. Menopause and Sexual Desire - Is There Sex After Menopause? Is loss of sexual desire after menopause normal? who experiences sexual issues during menopause and that estrogen is not related to changes in sexual ThirdAge: Sex After Menopause Physiologic changes at menopause can sometimes affect sexual activity and temporary or long-term, occurs in some women during and after menopause. Body Changes During Menopause and Perimenopause The Body Changes During Menopause and Perimenopause. The Body Changes During Menopause and Perimenopause in so many ways that it is hard to keep track of. Postgraduate Medicine: Weight gain during menopause Since changes in weight are common during menopause and are associated with increased lipid levels, it is important to determine whether these changes can LVH.org | HY 05/05: Vaginal Changes After Menopause âśAfter menopause, most women have noticeable changes in the vagina caused by the decrease in estrogen. The vaginal lining be-comes drier and thinner, Menopause Care Guide Information Mood changes. Mood changes are common during menopause. You may feel nervous, irritable (easily angered), or depressed (sad for a long time). Approaching Menopause Perimenopause is the two to fifteen year span before menopause during which a woman experiences changes due to declining levels of estrogen and progesterone Fibromyalgia - muscle changes during menopause - Susun Weed Menopause can leave you feeling like you've been beaten on. Muscles respond to hormonal changes by feeling sore and cranky. Sleep loss can make you ache. Womens HealthCare Forum: Menopause Most of todayâ™s women will live 25 to 30 yearsâ”one third of their livesâ”after menopause. An understanding of the bodyâ™s changes during this phase of life Menopause Perimenopause Mature Sexuality Aging HRT Womens Health During the perimenopause you may experience changes in your menstrual cycle and breasts. menopause changes in menstrual cycle |
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