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

sister mary menopause shirt
Menopause T-Shirts and Gifts : CafePress.com : Shop Over 35
Menopause Sucks Women's Long Sleeve T-ShirtWomen's Long Sleeve T-Shirt $24.99 . Sister Mary Menopause Framed TileFramed Tile $12.99

The Paragon - Sister Mary Morning Blend Tee
Nun the Wiser Tee Shirts. Sister Mary loves a hot cup of coffee to get her going, Sister Mary Menopause Tee. Was: $19.95 Now: $9.99 - $19.95

Sister Mary Menopause Tee specs
Menopause Tee specs are available at MSN Shopping. Learn more about Sister Mary Menopause Tee before you buy. Product details. Shirt style, T-Shirt

Magnetic Note Pads : Gallery 19, Providing ways to express yourself
Put on brown stretch pants and baggy gray T-shirt. 2. Run errands. 3. Bump into every person I have ever Text: Sister Mary Menopause (Nun for the Road)

Electron Blue
I wear faded black jeans and a T-shirt, in the winter, a turtleneck shirt. .. in full habit frantically fanning herself, titled "Sister Mary Menopause.

sister tee - compare prices, research products, save money at
Sister Mary Menopause Tee. $19.95. See It. at Paragon Gifts This polyester-cotton-blend shirt is so hot maybe your sister will stop trying to shove a

A to Z Gifts Jill Seale Ornaments
The Mountain Tee Shirts. New Generation Statues. Skulls and Bones Ne'Qwa Art Sister Mary Menopause Jill Seale 5.5" Eternity Ornament

The first is an argument that victor. » One sister, Mary Lee Smith
One sister, Mary Lee Smith, of Layne bryant. Shirt bryant lane shoes bryant lane site web bryant lane store bryant lane store survey bryant lane survey

Funny T-shirts, Funny Shirts, Sexy Image Shirts & Slogans on Tees
Sister Mary Short Sleeve T Shirt ", Sister Mary Short Sleeve T Shirt "Menopause" #R237, $23.95, Add to Cart. Sister Mary Short Sleeve T Shirt "

Funny T-shirts, Funny Shirts, Sexy Image Shirts & Slogans on Tees
Sister Mary Nightshirts, Fun, Funny Night shirts for Fashion and Style your personal Way Sister Mary Nightshirt "Menopause" #R237, $24.95, Add to Cart

NUN FOR THE ROAD¨ ONLINE SHOPPING
Click on the Sister you want to see her selection:. IF YOU ARE A RETAILER WISHING TO PLACE Email for Doormats: Sister Mary Merlot, Sister Mary Menopause

Sister T-Shirts and Gifts : CafePress.com : Shop Over 35 Million
Baby Sister Long Sleeve T-ShirtLong Sleeve T-Shirt $25.99. little sisterbaby sister InfantToddler . Sister Mary Menopause Framed TileFramed Tile $12.99

Flash Bbq Apron - Sports - Cafe Gift Shop - An Extreme Selection
Sister Mary Menopause BBQ Apron Flash BBQ Apron #83702451 Hot flash jokes on t-shirts & unique gifts make fun 40th & 50th birthday party gift ideas.

Million spent in lunesta for Lunesta could be cut from the
Sister mary menopause shirt? Million in cash for stock representing a. Hardly a secret that G video hasn. Buy Quality Cash Registers Online at Low Costs.

La Perla - Beautive Cosmetics - Want to Buy La Perla Products
Sister Mary Menopause Nun For The Road Magnetic Notepad. Buy This Product, "Sister Mary Our Wicked Evil Monkey T-Shirt features a detailed screen pr.

Thursday chuckle Archive - AudioKarma.org Discussion Forums
While unloading his gear and his prize catch, Sister Mary inquired about his . SIGNS OF MENOPAUSE: 1. You sell your home heating system at a yard sale.

Catholic League: For Religious and Civil Rights
The mail-order catalog, Favorites, advertised a night shirt featuring an angry nun holding a ruler with the caption "Sister Mary Menopause."

CafePress.com Your Account | Sign In | Cart:0 items | Help Start
All Departments, Men's T-Shirts & Apparel, Women's T-Shirts & Apparel Sister Mary Menopause Mug $14.99. Sister Mary Menopause Framed Tile

List of South Park families - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shelley Marsh is Stan's teenage sister. The character was voiced by Mary Kay Bergman . was a parody of menstruation, while her death parodied menopause.


sister mary menopause shirt
perimenopause fertility rates
menopause natural medicationfor vaginal dryness
the menopause solution
menopause show