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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Sex After Menopause She had heard that at menopause, women lose their interest in and ability to have sex. But since she started using a little KY jelly to add lubrication and Sex and Menopause Further, the emotional changes that often accompany menopause can add to a womanâ™s loss of interest in sex and/or inability to become aroused. The Menopause and Sex - Patient UK Many women find freedom from periods and the risk of pregnancy quite liberating and actually enjoy sex more after the menopause. However, some problems may Sex After Menopause Women do go through physical changes after menopause that can affect how they feel about sex. These changes can be positive for many women. Menopause dashes sex life : Media Releases : News : The University Women are likely to experience a dramatic loss of sexual function as a consequence of menopause, a University of Melbourne study has concluded. Sexual Health: Sexual Expression - Sex and Menopause Women's Health Matters Network: Sexual Health Centre: Sex and Menopause. The Health-Sex Connection | Sex Over 50 | Sex | Adults Good health certainly contributes to good sex. But did you know that sex also contributes to good health? Here are some of the benefits of being sexually Sex and the menopause The menopause can affect your libido, but doesn't mean the end of your sex life. Amazon.com: Sex, Lies, and Menopause: The Shocking Truth About Amazon.com: Sex, Lies, and Menopause: The Shocking Truth About Hormone Replacement Therapy: Books: TS Wiley,Julie Taguchi,Bent Formby by TS Wiley,Julie Sex after the menopause These days, there is no earthly reason why women cannot continue to enjoy a happy and satisfying sex life during and after the menopause, if they want one. Menopause and Sex Information on MedicineNet.com Loss of estrogen during menopause may result in a decreased libido. Menopause symptoms that also negatively affect sexual activity include bladder control Menopause and Sexual Desire - Is There Sex After Menopause? Is loss of sexual desire after menopause normal? Find out what is and isn't normal about non-hormonal causes of decreased sexual desire and learn what Sex after the menopause The menopause is the time when a woman's periods stop. In the UK, this usually happens between the ages of 47 and 53. ThirdAge: Sex After Menopause Many women find that sex after menopause can actually be more enjoyable and fulfilling than in younger years. Find out what to expect and how to easily plan Sex After Menopause: 8 Ways To Make It Better Than Ever! Is sex over after menopause? No way! In fact, with a little planning -- and a lot of fun experimenting! -- your sex life may be more enjoyable and Menopause: Sex Drive in Menopause A discussion of why menopausal women are likely to loose their sex drive and offers possible forms of treatment for those seeking to increase their libido. DrN4U.com : Sex And Menopause Dr Nosanchuk explains why a menopausal woman's desire to have sex and her capacity to physically participate in sex are both affected by her menopause. Menopause and Sex - WebMD The loss of estrogen following menopause can lead to changes in a woman's sex drive. Menopausal women may notice that they are not as easily sexually Menopause Symptoms May Hamper Sex In an online survey of 1054 women in or near menopause, more than half report vaginal symptoms that affect their sex life. |
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