Study Finds Menopause Symptoms Can Be Predicted

The 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 peri sign
Menopause and the skin. DermNet NZ
Menopause and the skin. Authoritative facts about the skin from the New Zealand Dermatological Society. Common peri-menopausal signs and symptoms

Peri Menopause Symptoms can be handled
Peri menopause symptoms often start off with you experiencing hot flushes. This is the beginning signs that you are heading towards the inevitable path of

Menopause explained step by step
Signs of peri-menopause Early signs of the peri-menopause might be the length of time between periods altering or periods becoming heavier or lighter.

Menopause, Menopause Symptoms and Menopause Support
Menopause and Peri Menopause are the hottest topics in town! Babyboomers have questions about Hormone Do you have signs of menopause or peri-menopause?

Can Natural Remedies for Menopause Offer a Cure For Hot Flashes?
hrt cancer link signs of menopause herbs for menopause peri menopause pre menopause symptoms early sign of menopause peri menopause symptoms

Peri Menopause Symptoms | Menopause
Early Menopause Signs And Symptoms. Peri Menopause Symptoms Here is a list of some of the common peri menopause symptoms that most women experience:

peri-menopause burning hands feet arms >> Medical Questions
I am 48 and my gyn says in peri- menopause. I have few problems that are tingling and burning hands, arms and feet are one of the peri-menopausal signs.

Amazon.com: "Survive Menopause, Peri and Post"
This book is a clearly-written, comprehensive look at all the aspects of peri- and post-menopause. The thing I particularly like about it is that Donna

Early Menopause Symptoms, Peri Menopause Symptom, Early Menopause
Warning Signs of Early Menopause Symptoms. What are early menopause symptoms? The term early menopause is one that you are likely to hear quite a bit but

What is Peri-menopause?
In most cases, the first signs of peri-menopause include missed or irregular periods along with aches and pains. Then, the woman may notice that she is

Adrenal Stress in Women during Menopause/Peri-menopause
Adrenal Stress in Women during menopause and peri-menopause can be the cause of many of Most of these signs and symptoms can also be attributed to other

What is Peri Menopause
Case in point, headaches and insomnia could be a sign of peri-menopause or they could be a sign of a more serious illness in a woman's body.

Menopause Forum - 62 Days Since Last Period : sign of peri menipause ?
Menopause Forum - 62 Days Since Last Period : sign of peri menipause ?, Menopause information, health forums, medical questions, medical information,

What is Perimenopause? - WebMD
What Are the Signs of Perimenopause? You will know you are transitioning into menopause when you begin experiencing some or all of the following symptoms:

signs of menopause
Signs 1-14 are the major, most common signs of peri-menopause and menopause; the signs that a woman most often consults a physician or other health care

PRE Menopause Signs and Symptoms perimenopause
All about the signs and symptoms of menopause and changes experienced during The Symptoms of Peri-Menopause. Hot flashes, night sweats, coldness

35 Perimenopause Pre - Peri Menopause Menopausal Symptoms-Signs
Perimenopause signs and symptoms - early menopause symptoms experienced in pre menopausal women - can be confusing. Learn the symptoms of perimenopause and

Signs which may be associated with (peri)menopause
Personal decisions concerning symptoms which may "just" be signs of (peri)menopause must be made in consultation with a health care provider.

Menopause peri-menopause symptoms, signs
Menopause and perimenopause symptoms can start two years before menopause occurs. Symptoms vary depending on the woman and her lifestyle.


menopause peri sign
menopause onset age
perimenopause contraception
natural medicines for menopause
menopause the musical lyric