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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Weight Gain During Menopause Although many experts maintain menopause does not cause weight gain directly, my experience is that menopause can make weight/fat loss very slow. Low Carb Eating and Menopause. Weight loss, Atkins Diet, South In other words, too much insulin causes us to gain weight. Excessive amounts of any carbohydrate or even small amounts of the wrong ones can cause you to Weight gain after menopause: Reverse the middle age spread But changing hormone levels associated with menopause aren't necessarily the cause of weight gain. Aging and lifestyle factors play a big role in your Perimenopause weight gain â” causes and solutions Why does weight gain occur so universally for women during menopause? has the potential to cause weight gain (and a host of other menopausal symptoms, Menopause and Weight Gain Although many women find they put on weight during the menopause, recent studies conclude that the menopause itself is not the cause of weight gain. Weight Gain during Menopause - loving your big beautiful body Women who gain weight during menopause have less severe hot flashes, herbs which can cause excessive fluid loss and disrupt electrolyte balance. Menopause: Weight Gain This is often a cause of weight gain after the age of 40. Stress: Stress is also a contributing factor in weight gain in menopause. Menopause and Weight Loss Look for information on menopause and weight loss. Find out the ways to shed the added pounds during menopause. Menopause weight gain Symptom Information - All about Menopause Psychological causes of Menopause Weight Gain: Anxiety and other forms of emotional daily stress, overwork and fatigue can cause weight gain during Menopause and weight gain - Better Health Channel. Women at menopause often experience weight gain, particularly around the abdomen. Hormone therapy does not cause weight gain Contrary to common belief, CBS.com CBS CARES: Does menopause cause weight gain? DR. SCHIFF: There is definitely a tendency to gain weight in menopause years and some evidence to suggest that |
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