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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AMA (CSAPH) Report 4 of the Council on Scientific Affairs (I-96 Not surprisingly, then, issues related to menopause have become increasingly visible in the popular press. Alternative therapies for the treatment of Menopause Facts : A Guide To Alternative Therapies For Menopause All menopause alternative therapies encompass a sort of holistic approach, and a belief that the symptoms caused by menopause can be treated effectively Menopause Alternative Therapies for Women Some people just don't feel comfortable taking a drug, and look for a therapy that is more natural in origin, such as herbal remedies. Menopause: alternative therapy : Guidelines, reviews, statements British Menopause Society · British Menopause Society Council Consensus Statement on Alternative and Complementary Therapies 2007 Menopause, Hormone Replacement Therapy, Home, Natural alternatives A comprehensive treatment of menopause, osteoporosis, Hormone Replacement therapies, treatments, Every major alternative therapy is covered in depth. Menopause, HRT and Alternative Therapy Information about alternative treatments for the symptoms of menopause. Alternative Medicine - Herbs, Yoga and Nutritional Supplements Kass-Annese B. Alternative therapies for menopause. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2000;43(1):162-183. Kelley GA. Exercise and regional bone mineral density in Herbal medicine, Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy Herbal medicine and Menopause. A comprehensive treatment of menopause, hot flashes, osteoporosis, and Hormone Replacement therapies. Alternative and Natural Hot Flashes and Hot Flash Symptoms and Treatment on MedicineNet.com Why are some doctors reluctant to recommend nonprescription therapies for menopause symptoms? What alternative treatments for menopause have been Do CAM Therapies Help Menopausal Symptoms? NCCAM Backgrounder Menopause also begins right away if a woman's ovaries are damaged by cancer treatment with radiation therapy or certain anticancer drugs. Menopause Matters, menopausal symptoms, remedies, advice Menopause and treatment options. An independent, clinician-led site aiming For others, non-hormonal options (alternative or complementary therapies or Alternative Therapies And Herbal Remedies Always consult your doctor before taking any alternative therapies or supplements. Marilyn Glenville's website contains useful sections on menopause and Menopause: complementary and alternative therapies - WebMD Complementary and alternative therapies for menopause symptoms include biofeedback, dietary and herbal supplements, acupuncture, homeopathy, BBC NEWS | Health | Menopause alternative remedy fear Women who swap hormone replacement therapy for alternative therapies to treat menopause symptoms risk harming themselves, doctors say. Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Menopause Links to information about alternative and complementary therapies that are used to treat menopause. Complementary and Alternative Therapies Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Menopause HealthInsite Topic Page Links to information about alternative and complementary therapies that are Menopause - Alternative treatments Companion website for the Quantum ABC TV special on menopause. Many menopausal women seek relief in alternative therapies as they are wary of the risks ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES FOR MENOPAUSE There is increasing interest in the use of alternative products to control symptoms of menopause. This article looks at some of the main therapies being Alternative Therapies for Traditional Disease States: Menopause It is well documented that the rate of bone loss increases significantly after menopause. Alternative therapies, such as soy and magnesium, |
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