Menopause predictor

Really? Yes. Do I really want to know? Separate issue. Scientists have developed a method for determining when menopause will start for a specific woman and it’s based solely on a blood test and data input to a statistical model. Predictions appear to be accurate to within three to four years.

So far the tests have been with small groups, if tests are confirmed through larger studies the researchers believe this information could be useful to women for family planning. Can you imagine knowing exactly when your biological clock starts ticking?

Dr. Fahimeh Ramezani Tehrani, President of the Reproductive Endocrinology Department of the Endocrine Research Centre and a faculty member and Associate Professor of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Irna and colleagues presented the info at the ESHRE conference in Rome in late June.

From blood samples of 266 women aged 20 to 49 they measured levels of AMH (anti-Mullerin Hormone, a hormone that measures ovarian function). The evaluation took place over three years. They developed a statistical model to estimate the age at menopause using one measure of AMH. When they repeated the estimates using AMH taken at other times, they found a good level of agreement among the estimates and also with a subgroup of 63 menopausal women who were part of the study.

“For example, if a 20-year-old woman has a concentration of serum AMH of 2.8 ng/ml, we estimate that she will become menopausal between 35-38 years old,” Ramezani Tehrani said.

She concluded, “We believe that our estimates of ages at menopause based on AMH levels are of sufficient validity to guide medical practitioners in their day-to-day practice, so that they can help women with their family planning.” This is really awesome news. No more guessing.

Source: ESHRE, MedicalNewsToday