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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Yahoo! UK & Ireland Directory > Women's Health > Early Menopause Support community for women who are experiencing early menopause for a variety of reasons. UK Early MenopauseUK · open this site in another window If a woman has an early menopause (age 39), what is the If a woman has an early menopause (age 39), what is the recommendations for duration of HRT Menopause. (http://www.cks.library.nhs.uk/menopause/) BBC - Health - Ask the doctor - Premature menopause Advice for women who think they're going through an early menopause. Elsewhere on bbc.co.uk Early Menopause UK Sex and cancer for women There is information in other sections of CancerHelp UK on how particular types Early menopause due to cancer treatment can be shattering physically and About women's fertility during chemotherapy You may have an early 'menopause'. Your periods become irregular and then stop . CancerHelp UK is not designed to provide medical advice or professional The British Menopause Society: Consensus Article An update: spontaneous premature ovarian failure is not an early menopause. Fertil Steril 2005;83:1327â“32 7. Committee on Safety of Medicines. Early Menopause < Women's Health in the Yahoo! Directory Support community for women who are experiencing early menopause for a variety of reasons. www.earlymenopause.com; Daisy Network U.K.-based charity and Welcome To The Daisy Network Premature menopause (also called premature ovarian failure and early menopause) is defined as Or by email to daisy at daisynetwork dot org dot uk. What Is Menopause? Early menopause, premature menopause and/or premature ovarian failure are terms that are often used to describe the same condition, whatever the cause. Early Menopause.com For women going through early menopause or premature ovarian failure (POF) of HRT -- a comparison chart of dosages, and Available Forms of HRT in the UK HRT-UK Important Note: The information contained on EarlyMenopause.com is not intended to replace the care prescribed by your physician. Early Menopause UK - Patient UK Early Menopause UK - Patient UK. A directory of UK health, disease, illness and related medical websites that provide patient information. Daisy Network - Patient UK Daisy Network - Patient UK. A directory of UK health, disease, illness and related Other - Patient Support. Patient Support Group Early Menopause UK Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust Early Menopause UK was set up in July 2003 to help all women going though the menopause, especially those going through it early. BMJ BestTreatments :: Conditions :: Menopause :: Early menopause The most common cause of an early menopause is women having their ovaries are removed by surgery. You may have this operation if you get ovarian cancer or Amazon.co.uk: The Premature Menopause Book: Books: Kath Petras Amazon.co.uk: The Premature Menopause Book: Books: Kath Petras by Kath Petras. Amazon.co.uk: Premature Menopause: Books Premature Menopause - A Medical Dictionary, Bibliography, and Annotated Research Guide to Internet References by ICON Health Publications (Paperback - 6 Dec Earlymenopauseuk - Homepage An online support website offering help & advice. Created by women for women who suffer from the Early menopause. Early Menopause Chat and message board for support of menopause, hysterectomy, endo, POF, HRT and natural alternatives. All welcome, UK based. |
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