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 |
| menopause diagnosis |
|
Diagnostic Tests for Menopause - WrongDiagnosis.com Diagnostic Tests for Menopause including blood tests, urine tests, swabs, diagnostic tests, lab tests, and pathology testing. Diagnosis Checklist for Menopause - WrongDiagnosis.com Questions a doctor or medical practioner may ask, and why, when considering Menopause as a symptom. Menopause: Screening and diagnosis - MayoClinic.com Screening and diagnosis. The signs and symptoms of menopause are enough to tell most women they have begun going through the transition. Symptoms and diagnosis of the Menopause Symptoms and diagnosis of the menopause. Symptoms include hot flushes, sweats, palpitations, fatigue, weight gain, fluid retention, bloating, ASRM: Infertility, Reproduction, Menopause, Andrology ASRM is devoted to advancing knowledge and expertise in reproductive medicine, including reproduction, male and female infertility, andrology, ASRM: Infertility, Reproduction, Menopause, Andrology Menopause Special Interest Group · Nurses Professional Group Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis Special Interest Group Diagnosis Diagnosis of menopause, A discussion about menopause, its causes, its diagnosis, and the use of estrogens and other hormones to treat it,health information Menopause; Diagnosis | NWHRC Health Center - Menopause | Find Menopause; Diagnosis from NWHRC Health Center - Menopause in Health provided free by Find Articles. Menopause - Diagnosis Usually no tests are required, however, in some women who experience an early Menopause, blood and urine test to measure the levels of estrogen, Diagnosis of Menopause Diagnosis of menopause is often based on the presence of menopausal symptoms and, in some cases, changes in hormone levels. Your healthcare provider will Menopause: diagnosis and treatment. Menopause: diagnosis and treatment. J Coope. Small right arrow pointing to: This article has been cited by other articles in PMC. Full text Menopause - Diagnosis Diagnosis. Menopause usually is diagnosed by reviewing a woman's medical history, symptoms and ruling out other causes for the symptoms. UpToDate Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of menopause This topic will review the clinical features and diagnosis of perimenopause and menopause. The basic aspects of ovarian development, factors that affect age Menopause Diagnosis The diagnosis of menopause is usually made by menstrual and medical history, but sometimes may be made with the use of lab values. MedlinePlus: Menopause The primary NIH organization for research on Menopause is the National Institute on Aging Overviews; Latest News; Diagnosis/Symptoms; Treatment Menopause - Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment of Menopause - NY Times Menopause is the transition period in a woman's life when her ovaries stop producing eggs, her body produces less estrogen and progesterone, Menopause: Diagnosis & Tests Diagnosing menopause isn't always easy. Learn about how menopause is sometimes diagnosed, and about tests you'll want to take as your body changes. Premature Menopause Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment on Premature menopause is when menopause occurs before age 40. Symptoms include night sweats, hot flashes, mood swings, decreased sex drive. Menopause symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment on MedicineNet.com Menopause and Hot Flashes Controlling lifestyle stress and anxiety may help reduce the number and severity of hot flashes associated with menopause, |
| menopause diagnosis |
|
coping with menopause knowing menopause com early menopause symptoms alles over menopause |