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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Dilation and curettage (D&C) for bleeding during menopause Dilation and curettage (DandC) is a surgical procedure used to locate and treat the cause of sudden, heavy bleeding. Bleeding after a hysterectomy, during perimenopause, or after Remember, it is still possible to become pregnant during perimenopause. Practice birth control if you do not wish to become pregnant. Menopausal Bleeding - Irregular Bleeding During Perimenopause and Irregular Menstruation During Perimenopause. Irregular bleeding is very common in women Often, the easiest way to treat irregular periods is with low Bleeding after a hysterectomy, during perimenopause, or after Some women have irregular periods for years during perimenopause. Remember, it is still possible to become pregnant during perimenopause. Dark brownish period during menopause >> Medical Questions, Weight I am 46 years old and am in the middle of menopause. I miss months without having periods, however, the last two were very painful. Contraception Online: Contraception and Reproductive Health Info During perimenopause, a woman's ovaries make less estrogen, a sex hormone. options that provide birth control for periods ranging from 1 to 10 years. Womens HealthCare Forum: Menopause Midlife is often considered a period of increased risk for depression in women. The drop in estrogen levels during perimenopause and menopause can lead to The menopause Many women experience symptoms of the menopause and irregular periods for .. What you can do before, during and after a night out to ease symptoms. MENOPAUSE: Common Problems and Their Remedies During this time, women whose periods do stop abruptly are apt to get a pregnancy . Some women begin to experience vaginal problems during perimenopause, UpToDate Patient information: Abnormal uterine bleeding Although anovulation is most common when periods first begin and during perimenopause, it can occur at any time during the reproductive years. Bleeding During Perimenopause - Women's Health Zone Irregular periods are common and normal during perimenopause, but not all changes in bleeding are from perimenopause or menopause. Perimenopause - CNN.com If that's not what you want, use birth control until you've had no periods for 12 months. Changes in sexual function. During perimenopause, sexual arousal Healthy Viewpoints Abnormal Uterine Bleeding During Perimenopause. By Susan J. Momont, MD, FACOG Perimenopause is the gradual transition into menopause when periods stop Perimenopause (premenopause) Perimenopause is the phase before menopause actually takes place, when ovarian Can I get pregnant during perimenopause? What is a phantom period? Hotflash! - FAQ - Why are some periods heavy and some light? Some months my period is nothing more than spotting and other months the flow is For some women the slowing down of the ovaries during perimenopause and Is Heavy, Irregular Bleeding, or Bleeding After Sex Normal During A look at irregular bleeding during perimenopause. Learn what causes abnormal bleeding during perimenopause. Perimenopause symptoms and understanding signs of hormonal change If you are currently experiencing symptoms such as irregular periods, heavy bleeding, During perimenopause, the ratio of estrogen to progesterone is Perimenopausal and menopausal bleeding PERIMENOPAUSAL AND MENOPAUSAL BLEEDING: Dr. Indman explains what's normal, rapid diagnosis, and treatment What happens to periods during menopause? Is This Perimenopause? You can experience either heavy or light bleeding during your periods. Vaginal dryness often occurs during perimenopause due to decreased production of |
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