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

perimenopause diet
Before the Change : Taking Charge of Your Perimenopause
I have incorporated these suggestions into my diet. If you're feeling poorly as a result of perimenopause, BUY THIS BOOK ! You will NOT have to follow every

Diet For Menopause and Perimenopause
Menopause, including perimenopause, is frequently accompanied by sudden weight gain, particulary around the abdomen and stomach.

Is This Perimenopause?
An increase in fat around the waist is often seen in perimenopausal women. Following a healthy, low carb diet and getting adequate exercise (at least 30

Amazon.com: The Natural Estrogen Diet: Healthy Recipes for
Amazon.com: The Natural Estrogen Diet: Healthy Recipes for Perimenopause and Menopause: Books: Lana Liew,Linda Ojeda by Lana Liew,Linda Ojeda.

Perimenopause Diet, Peri Menopause Diet | Your Perimenopause Diet
What is your perimenopause diet like? For many, this can be the natural treatment for perimenopause symptoms and hardships and they donâ™t even realize it.

Book Reviews : The Natural Estrogen Diet: Healthy Recipes for
Automatic download Begin manual download. Downloading the PDF version of: Complementary Health Practice Review 7 (1): 51. (74K)

Perimenopause critical for preventing heart disease and osteoporosis
Research in monkeys suggests that the perimenopause - the five to 10 years before a woman's menopause - is a critical time for preventing heart disease and

Menopause Diet Plan - Perimenopause/Postmenopause Diets - Weight
An example 2-Day Menopause Diet Plan that can help to alleviate the symptoms of menopause - Weight Loss Center.net.

NFB - Collection - Migraines-Detox/Diet/Herbal / Chiropractic
Migraines-Detox/Diet/Herbal / Chiropractic / Peri-Menopause. Description; Credits; To Order · Migraines-Detox/Diet/Herbal / Chiropractic / Peri-Menopause

DrLark.com: Diet for Combating Estrogen Dominance
Perimenopause Diet for Combating Estrogen Dominance. These dietary guidelines are a natural and easy way to improve perimenopause symptoms.

Hotflash! - Gillespie - Introduction
Her book The Menopause Diet is excellent and educates us to how our body actually works against us during perimenopause/menopause.

The Natural Estrogen Diet: Healthy Recipes for Perimenopause and
The Natural Estrogen Diet: Healthy Recipes for Perimenopause and Menopause; LIEW, LANA, DR., MD, AND CJEDA, LINDA, AND FRAY, RANDALL E, MB, CH.

Women's Health and Fitness During Menopause - Perimenopause - A
Three key factors to staying youthful and reducing symptoms of perimenopause are: Diet, exercise and a healthy, positive attitude.

Symptoms of Perimenopause
Researchers continue to study the relationship between a soy-rich diet and female hormones. Although each woman experiences perimenopause (the period

Weight gain as a symptom of perimenopause or menopause, resulting
Sudden or unusual weight gain in perimenopause is a result of hormone imbalance. Over time this diet commonly creates a condition known as insulin

How to lose perimenopause weight gain through diet, weight loss
Women in perimenopause must incorporate ways to boost the metabolism while making perimenopause diet and lifestyle changes if they want to loss

Perimenopause - CNN.com
Perimenopause marks the interval in which your body begins its . Adopt a low-fat, high-fiber diet that's rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Perimenopause weight gain â” causes and solutions
As many women enter perimenopause or approach menopause, they find themselves . When a woman begins to lose weight dramatically, like on a crash diet,

Sail Through Perimenopause with a Healthy Diet
Whether youâ™re perimenopausal, postmenopausal or still in your 20s, implementing a healthy diet plan is integral for living a happy, balanced life and


perimenopause diet
menopause home tests
menopause menopause symptom
perimenopause symptoms spotting
premature menopause and oral contraceptives