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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Search results for "premature ovarian failure" - Revolution Health Related searches: primary ovarian failure, ovarian failure, premature menopause, more primary hypogonadism, galactosemias, ovarian function, signs and Menopause & Hormone Therapy - Stages of Menopause - Premature However, with certain types of premature menopause, these signs may not be enough for a diagnosis. A blood test that measures follicle-stimulating hormone But this may be the way her acne whiteheads itself before it comes On top of the more common signs of menopause, premature menopause symptoms bring a host of concerns, including the loss of fertility and the increased risk Premature menopause - WebMD Hot Flashes, Menopause and Anxiety, Menopause: Warning Signs, Premature Menopause: What It Is, What to Watch For, Surgical Menopause & Induced Menopause Premature ovarian failure: Signs and symptoms - MayoClinic.com Other signs and symptoms of premature ovarian failure are similar to those experienced by a woman going through menopause. These signs and symptoms may What Are The Symptoms of Premature Ovarian Failure or POF? Tip:If you hear someone talking about early menopause, what they're really talking about is premature ovarian failure. A. The most common signs and symptoms Premature Ovarian Failure - C01 The confusion between POF and premature menopause occurs because symptoms of POF can be similar to those of menopause. Signs of POF include: Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) In the past, health care providers called this condition premature menopause, but this term is not an accurate description of what happens in a woman with Premature Ovarian Failure: American Pregnancy Association A woman with premature ovarian failure, or premature menopause, may still have follicles, but there may Irregular periods are one of the signs for POF. Premature Menopause Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment on Premature menopause is when menopause occurs before age 40. These symptoms are a sign that the ovaries are producing less estrogen. SYMPTOMS One important point: You should be aware that some irregularities in your menstrual cycle may not be related to premature menopause, but could be a sign of |
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