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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50+Health - Home/Health Topics/Menopause/Signs and symptoms The most common, earliest sign that a woman is approaching the menopause is erratic periods. They can be irregular in length or occurrence, or unusually Signs of Menopause Information about the common signs of menopause that most women experience at some point as they go through "the change". Symptoms of Menopause - Menopausal Signs and Treatment The symptoms and signs of menopause are not cut and dry, do not appear in logical order and are not experienced by all women the same way all of the time. Menopause - Information About Menopause Stages and Signs Menopause is preceded by perimenopause and followed by post menopause. All three stages come with their own telltale signs with considerable overlap from Symptoms of Menopause Must know information on menopause .Find out the signs, causes, complications, symptoms of menopause and many more. Menopause Signs, The Signs of Menopause, Menopause Tests In the past, when women experienced signs of menopause, they were often prescribed valium for hot flashes, or a tranquilizer for depression. 34 Symptoms of Menopause - Power Surge I suggest you begin with the comprehensive article explaining what menopause is (by clicking this link): in "An Introduction To Menopause: Signs, Menopause Symptoms & Safe Menopause Solutions Available online, take the womens health clinic PMS & early menopause signs health test, eliminate premenopause & menopause symptoms with the womens health Menopause Symptoms - Leading Symptoms of Menopause By using supplementary natural progesterone, you can safely reduce or eliminate unwanted premenopause signs and menopause symptoms. Early Signs of Menopause Early signs of menopause are clues to the onset of the symptoms of menopause in a relatively early time. The menopausal state is usually during a woman's PRE Menopause Signs and Symptoms perimenopause All about the signs and symptoms of menopause and changes experienced during perimenopause. Menopause 101 - What Are The Signs Of Menopause? Menopause changes levels of estrogen and progesterone can cause a variety of symptoms. Discover the most common symptoms of menopause. Menopause: Signs and symptoms - MayoClinic.com The signs and symptoms of menopause, however, often appear long before the one-year anniversary of your final period. They include: Menopause, health, signs, treatment -- RealAge Health Quiz Learn more about menopause and your treatment options, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Take the free RealAge Menopause Health Assessment for Menopause: Signs and Symptoms of Menopause A look at when menopause starts, the common signs and symptoms and what women can expect during this time. Managing Menopause - Signs and Symptoms Menopause is the last menstrual (monthly) period in a woman's life. It is a natural occurrence which marks the end of the reproductive years, 34 Menopause Symptoms - all about each menopausal symptom. Weight gain, specifically a thickening in your middle, is another sign of changing hormones. While a number of books and doctors claim that menopause has 34 menopause symptoms and signs to help you decide which treatment There are 34 menopause signs and symptoms typically listed and these 34 menopause signs and symptoms are what send most women running to their doctor for 35 Symptoms of Menopause SOME OF THE 35 SYMPTOMS MAY ALSO BE SIGNS OF THE FOLLOWING: Premature, or instant, menopause is brought on by surgical intervention. What is Menopause? |
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