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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Understanding Each Stage of Menopause Learn about Understanding Each Stage of Menopause, and search for other issues and information about coping with modern menopause. Bone Mineral Density and Metabolism at an Early Stage of Menopause Bone Mineral Density and Metabolism at an Early Stage of Menopause When Estrogen and Calcium Supplement Are Not Used and without the Interference of Major CareFair.com - How to Deal with Menopause What many women arenâ™t aware of is the fact that there are different stages of menopause: perimenopause, natural menopause and postmenopause. 10th World Congress on the Menopause, 2002 The Seven Stages of Menopause. Dr. Sherman presented this new staging system of menopause.5 The STRAW workshop had been convened to address the absence of Menopause Facts : Post Menopause: The Final Stage Of Menopause Post Menopause: The Final Stage Of Menopause. Menopause is a very important and serious time in a woman's life, and is basically the signaling of the end of The Menopause Transition: Understanding and Dealing with a New Entering the stage of menopause brings on all kinds of changes and emotions. Itâ™s also vital to recognize that menopause is a stage of life to pass How to know the stages of menopause | eHow.com How to know the stages of menopause. Menopause has four distinct and clear stages for women to go through. What most people call 'menopause' is actually the Stages of Menopause | Perimenopause, Menopause, Postmenopause There are three stages of menopause that represent the time before, during, and after menopause. They are called perimenopause, menopause, How to Tell The Stages of Menopause | eHow.com How to Tell The Stages of Menopause. Menopause has very clear and concise stages to go through. Knowing what they are can help you determine where you are The Stages of Menopause - Associated Content Check out The Stages of Menopause - Submitted by Tina Samuels at Associated Content. the seven stages of menopause « raincoaster the seven stages of menopause. via Archie, from whom I ruthlessly rent this image. Sue me, O Patriarchal One (IF you dare!)! the seven dwarves of menopause Menopause & Hormone Therapy - Stages of Menopause This stage of menopause is characterized by hormone fluctuations, which cause the typical menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes. Menopause - Stages of menopause, Physiological changes, Treatments Stages of Menopause. Women go through different phases of menopause, including perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal periods. The Stages of Menopause - Associated Content Check out The Stages of Menopause - Submitted by Crystal Sky at Associated Content. Stages of Menopause There are four stages of menopause - premenopause, perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. Discover the differences in menopause stages. Menopause: Signs and Symptoms of Menopause The whole process of menopause can take 15 years or longer, depending on your age and family history. The first stage of menopause is known as perimenopause Menopause: The Stages of Menopause and Managing Menopause Symptoms This article describes the basic stages of menopause, common symptoms of menopause, and treatments that can help to reduce the discomfort of menopause. Menopause - Information About Menopause Stages and Signs Menopause is preceded by perimenopause and followed by post menopause. All three stages come with their own telltale signs with considerable overlap from The Stages of Menopause at Menopause Insight Menopause Insight is a wonderfully insightful website designed for women experiencing the change of life known as Menopause. Research the various stages of |
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