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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Recommended Resource List: Aging: Physical Aspects - Kentucky Menopause Guidebook offered by the North American Menopause Society is 60 page booklet on perimenopause, early menopause, menopause symptoms and long-term Other Recommended Resources - Our Bodies Ourselves San Diego, CA: Icon Health Publications, 2004. North American Menopause Society. Early Menopause Guidebook. Cleveland, OH: North American Menopause Society, Reference Library - New Zealand Early Menopause Support Group Early Menopause Guidebook â“ North American Menopause Society. On the back cover To promote the understanding of the physical and emotional changes that Know Menapause Symptoms and Peri Menapause This early menopause guidebook explains hormone imbalance and all peri menapause symptoms and menapause symptoms. Dr. Lee also covers all the natural Pre Menopause Symptoms and Best Pre Menopause Product This early menopause guidebook presents common pre menopause symptoms with suggested natural treatments such as supplementation with natural progesterone Early Menopause < Women's Health in the Yahoo! Directory www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/prematureovarianfailure.html; Early Menopause Guidebook For women reaching menopause earlier than the typical age, Yahoo! UK & Ireland Directory > Women's Health > Early Menopause Early Menopause Guidebook · open this site in another window - For women reaching menopause earlier than the typical age, spontaneously or through medical Menopause & Hormone Therapy - Stages of Menopause - Premature Women who enter menopause early get symptoms similar to those of natural menopause, Early Menopause Guidebook (Copyright © NAMS) - This booklet explains Amazon.com: Early Menopause Guidebook: Books: The North American Amazon.com: Early Menopause Guidebook: Books: The North American Menopause Society by The North American Menopause Society. Amazon.com: Menopause Guidebook: Books: The North American Early Menopause Guidebook by The North American Menopause Society. Discusses:. botanical therapies · prescription therapies · anticlotting drugs EarlyMenopause.com -> Early Menopause Guidebook Early Menopause Guidebook It is well worth the read. It may also be something good to take to your doctor. (I gave a copy of Kathy's book to my Ob/gyn. The Menopause Guidebook - Menopause Books Published by The North American Menopause Society, a nonprofit scientific organization, this comprehensive 60-page, consumer-oriented guidebook provides Bioidentical â˜Naturalâ™ Hormone Evaluation in Early Menopause Early Menopause Guidebook (North American Menopause Society). Premature Ovarian Failure Recruitment Study (National Institute of Child Health and Human When Menopause Comes Early | Friend Indeed, A | Find Articles at (www.menopause.org) posts a publication online called The Early Menopause Guidebook. It can also be ordered by dialling 440-442-7550 or e-mail: Information and updates on early menopause Published in May 2003, the Menopause Guidebook is the most complete and current In its 60 pages is information on perimenopause, early menopause, Early Menopause, Early Menopause Symptoms Early Menopause Guidebook â“ The North American Menopause Society offers an early menopause guidebook with information about early menopause symptoms, Early Menopause, Premature Menopause Published in October 2006, the Early Menopause Guidebook is the most complete and To view the entire Early Menopause Guidebook by chapter, click here. healthfinder.gov â” Early Menopause Guidebook New FDA labeling for hormones, and new menopause-related treatments. healthfinder.gov â” North American Menopause Society - NAMS Consumer educational materials include: "Menopause Guidebook," "Early Menopause Guidebook," Suggested Reading List, and "Menopause Flashes" (a complimentary |
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