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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The Truth About Sex After 50 | Sexuality | Reader's Digest Other women find their interest in sex increases after menopause, due, in part, to a shift in the ratio of testosterone to estrogen and progesterone. Your Menopause IQ: Test Your Knowledge - H01 Painful intercourse can be more prominent after menopause because decreased Women having frequent intercourse after the menopause (once a week or more) It's possible to restore post-menopausal sex drive, but do women Nature designed women to be more "forceful on the world stage" after menopause and naturally less inclined to think about sex, says Dr. Leonard Shlain, Rediff Q&A Answer for: Can women really enjoy intercourse after Can women really enjoy intercourse after menopause? Can women really enjoy intercourse after menopause? Asked by : m m 2 day(s) ago. Category : Sex Sex After Menopause Loss of interest in sex, temporary or long-term, occurs in some women during and after menopause. Possible causes include the following: Sex after the menopause These days, there is no earthly reason why women cannot continue to enjoy a happy and satisfying sex life during and after the menopause, if they want one. Womens HealthCare Forum: Menopause Thatâ™s why women continue to have low levels of estrogen after menopause. .. as well as painful intercourse, and bleeding after sexual intercourse. Sex & Menopause Over-the-counter lubricants can help make sex more enjoyable during and after menopause. In addition, estrogen therapy (ET) can help relieve moderate to Painful Intercourse After Menopause? "I've tried Vagifem, and it hasn't helped â” what do I do now?" Sex After Menopause ; Seattle Washington WA Sex After Menopause Swedish MC, Seattle Washington WA. Frequently asked questions on menopause Several methods are available to relieve pain during intercourse. Some women have problems with bladder control after menopause begins. Sex after the menopause The menopause is the time when a woman's periods stop. In the UK, this usually happens between the ages of 47 and 53. Menopause: Sex Drive in Menopause Sex during and after menopause has always been an issue of great debate and every woman feels a different way about it. In the past, sexual intercourse Sex After Menopause Women do go through physical changes after menopause that can affect how they feel about sex. These changes can be positive for many women. Dr. Ruth Talks About Sex After 50 We know that after menopause a woman should use lubricant so there's no pain in the vagina during intercourse. And, after a certain age, Menopause and Sex - WebMD Related Guide: Incontinence and Menopause, Sex After Menopause, Are You on a Rollercoaster? Menopause and Depression, Related Guide: Osteoporosis Quiz: Sex After Menopause Sex can be enjoyable after menopause. Still, certain menopausal symptoms could affect sexual intercourse. The good news is that these symptoms1 are ThirdAge: Sex After Menopause Many women find that sex after menopause can actually be more enjoyable and fulfilling than in younger years. Find out what to expect and how to easily plan Menopause and Sexual Desire - Is There Sex After Menopause? Is loss of sexual desire after menopause normal? Find out what is and isn't normal about non-hormonal causes of decreased sexual desire and learn what |
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