Menopause is the cessation of menstruation. In other words, it is the end of fertility for women. It sets in when the number of eggs reaches the lowest count.
Eggs form in a female's ovary while she is still in the womb. At birth there are several hundred thousand eggs; 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.
Every woman will experience menopause differently, because every woman is unique and different. The age menopause start could be 45 for some women, 50 or 55 for others. The menopause symptoms could be severe and almost unbearable for some, or easy and almost unnoticeable for others.
My question to all women is: If you knew the exact age when menopause will happen to you, would you make a life decision based on this fact?
Researchers now say they may be able to determine when the menopause starts, by measuring ovarian volume with trans vaginal ultrasound.
As a woman ages, the ovaries shrink, so there is a direct rapport between the size of ovaries and the number of eggs. Applying mathematical theorems, the scientists produced a formula to potentially predict menopause.
This test could be the beginning of a new stage for women who can not conceive, for women treated for different cancers, actually for all women.
From a different point of view, if you look at the assisted reproductive technology, the overall success of a woman over 40 to get pregnant is very low.
The conclusion is obvious: women shouldn't wait too long for planning babies. No matter how advanced the assisted reproductive technology is, no matter how sophisticated the so called prediction tests are.
I am wondering if women should go for a test like this. Should a 30 year old woman believe in this test? Should she make career decisions based on it? Can menopause really be predicted?
The answer is NO. How could you possibly tell someone to go ahead and change their life because of a test result?
Eggs form in a female's ovary while she is still in the womb. At birth there are several hundred thousand eggs; 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.
Every woman will experience menopause differently, because every woman is unique and different. The age menopause start could be 45 for some women, 50 or 55 for others. The menopause symptoms could be severe and almost unbearable for some, or easy and almost unnoticeable for others.
My question to all women is: If you knew the exact age when menopause will happen to you, would you make a life decision based on this fact?
Researchers now say they may be able to determine when the menopause starts, by measuring ovarian volume with trans vaginal ultrasound.
As a woman ages, the ovaries shrink, so there is a direct rapport between the size of ovaries and the number of eggs. Applying mathematical theorems, the scientists produced a formula to potentially predict menopause.
This test could be the beginning of a new stage for women who can not conceive, for women treated for different cancers, actually for all women.
From a different point of view, if you look at the assisted reproductive technology, the overall success of a woman over 40 to get pregnant is very low.
The conclusion is obvious: women shouldn't wait too long for planning babies. No matter how advanced the assisted reproductive technology is, no matter how sophisticated the so called prediction tests are.
I am wondering if women should go for a test like this. Should a 30 year old woman believe in this test? Should she make career decisions based on it? Can menopause really be predicted?
The answer is NO. How could you possibly tell someone to go ahead and change their life because of a test result?
About the Author:
Besides menopause, the author is involved in several health topics, including unplanned pregnancy.
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