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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Depression & Menopause I'm a 51-year-old woman in the midst of menopause and I feel incredible sadness. Do menopausal women generally suffer depression? When do these feelings go Menopause Depression Menopause depression this period is associated with gradual declines in estrogen levels. Some studies suggest that changes in estrogen levels are associated Treatment for the Signs of Menopause - RealAge Menopause Center Whether or not you are experiencing signs of menopause, if you have symptoms of depression that concern you, contact your primary healthcare practitioner or Depression & Menopause For further reading, David Kahn et al present Depression during the Transition to Menopause: A Guide for Patients and Families Menopause & Depression - Treatments for menopausal depression A look at conventional Treatments for anxiety and depression associated with the female menopause. Managing Menopause - Depression and Anxiety Menopause, many theories have debated the link between hormones and depression. Female Depression - Menopause About depression in women associated with menopause and the associated hormonal changes. Menopause Depression, Menopause and Depression: Power Surge Share your concerns and experiences with depression and menopause on the Power Surge Depression forums (Registraton for the Power Surge forums is required). For Menopause Depression | Mood Swings Get The Best Advice At Menopause Friend is your best source for menopause depression information, articles and facts. For Patients It is actually unusual for depression to appear for the first time after menopause, when all menstruation has ceased. However, there is a transitional time Menopause and Depression Midlife is often considered a period of increased risk for depression in women. Understanding Depression - Women and Depression: Menopause The symptoms of depression in menopause or perimenopause are: two or more weeks of depressed mood, decreased interest or pleasure in activities, Menopause Symptoms: Depression Discusses how depression can affect menopausal women. Also outlines the various forms of treatment available to those suffering from depression. Depression and sadness in perimenopause and menopause One of the causes of depression is hormonal imbalance. We provide natural help for depression by helping the body to produce more serotonin. Menopause and Depression - WebMD New studies show that women approaching menopause are at increased risk for depression due to hormonal changes. Does Menopause Cause Depression and Irritability? A look at menopause and why depression and irritability often go hand-in-hand. Perimenopause, Menopause and Depression The drop in estrogen levels during perimenopause and menopause triggers physical as well as emotional changes -- such as depression or anxiety and changes |
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