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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Irregular periods - understanding the menstrual cycle Click here to learn more about irregular periods in perimenopause. This is frequently the cause of a missed period (an anovulatory cycle) and is 44 yr. old-Missed period last 2 monthsplease give opinion I had my tubes tied after my 4rth child so when I missed a few (.)s I knew I wasn't PG or at best, perimenopause. I went without a period for 8 months. Perimenopause Symptoms : Symptoms of Perimenopause : Discovery Health Perimenopause is the 10- to 15-year period before menopause, usually defined by flow or duration; a missed period for at least three consecutive months; Perimenopause Perimenopause is defined as the TRANSITIONAL period from normal menstrual periods to no periods at all. The transition can, and usually does, take up to ten Period 4 wks late, 4 negative HPTs, nauseous, emotional I am 44 yrs old and my period is 4 wks late. I've had 4 negative HPTs, HELP ADVISE: Am I entering Perimenopause? with Missed and longer heavier periods HELP ADVISE: Am I entering Perimenopause? with Missed and longer However, this year, I have missed two periods (each with 50+ days from last). Period 4 wks late, 4 negative HPTs, nauseous, emotional - perimenopause? Missed period - WrongDiagnosis.com List of 5 disease causes of Missed period, patient stories, diagnostic guides, full text online books about Missed Perimenopause missed periods OBGYN.net Menopause & Perimenopause Ask The Expert March, 2000 A: No one is too young for perimenopause. And your symptoms with the FSH levels Q: Missed period I am 43, apparently in good health, and am usually very Power Surge Forums > Am I Starting Perimenopause? (2 replies); After all this is this perimenopause? (7 replies); Supplements seem to helping, (11 replies); SORE breasts, before and DURING period? Help! Irregular periods in perimenopause Again I attributed this to perimenopause and started reading every book on menopause in I missed my first period in 1995. I only had 5 periods in 1996, Perimenopause Symptoms - Pycnogenol and Black Cohosh Information The term ÁœperimenopauseÁ« should include the period immediately prior to .. heavier or lighter periods, or missed periods); hot flashes (sudden rush of Vitamins for Perimenopause - Missed Period Perimenopause - Mitamins Information related to Missed Period Perimenopause and nutritional formulas to support Perimenopause. Quality custom made vitamin and supplement formulas ObGyn/Pregnancy issues: missed period, negative hpt Perimenopause symptoms can begin as early as your late 30s. You took the last two tests late enough after a missed period that they should have picked ObGyn/Pregnancy issues: pregnancy during perimenopause? I typically suggest waiting until after the full week of a missed period not a preganancy but rather the beginning of the next phase of perimenopause. progesterone cream for perimenopause, perimenopause missed periods Perimenopause symptoms include fatigue, headaches, irritability, low metabolism, When you have tapered off your estrogen over a three-month period, WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for November, 2007: Re: MENORRHAGIA: Missed Re: MENORRHAGIA: Missed period - (Perimenopausal). From: Hope Waltman (anonymous@obgyn.net) Wed Nov 7 17:27:09 2007. Messages sorted by: date thread Menopause and Perimenopause-Overview What is perimenopause? Menopause is the point in a woman's life when she has not had a menstrual period for 1 year. Menopause marks the end of the First time hot flashes and late period..perimenopausal symptoms I'm 46, experiencing a lot of hot flashes for the InteliHealth: Perimenopause, also known as the climacteric, includes the time before menopause . bleeding that starts after menopause (after one year without a period) |
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