John Taffe1, Lorraine Dennerstein. 1. School of Mathematical Sciences, Swinburne University, Victoria, Hawthorn, Australia. jtaffe@bigpond.net.au
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine, for a woman aged >45 years, whether selected hormonal, health status, and demographic measures are related to the time to final menstrual period (FMP) from a point where 6 weeks separate the shortest and longest cycles experienced to date. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Volunteers in an academic research environment. PATIENT(S): Ninety-nine menstruating women aged 46 years to 55 years on entry completed menstrual diaries, gave annual blood samples, and were interviewed annually. They were observed for a mean period of 1.5 years. Seventy-seven reached FMP during observation. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Time to reach FMP from the date of a marker event-the difference between the longest and shortest of recent cycles reaching 6 weeks. RESULT(S): Women self-rating as in the transition have a greater "hazard" or probability of FMP at any time after the marker event. Allowing for this and other covariates, the hazard is estimated to increase by 30% (confidence interval [CI]: 10%, 60%) for each year of age and 50% (CI: 7%, 118%) for each unit increase in log FSH, measured at the time of the marker event. CONCLUSION(S): For women aged >45 years, the time remaining in the menopausal transition from the day on which >or=6 weeks separate the longest and shortest recent cycles is related to self-rating of menopausal status and to serum FSH level. The median number of months remaining ranges from 11 for those with FSH of >20 IU/L and who see themselves as in transition to 21 months for those with lower FSH and who notice little evidence of being in transition.
OBJECTIVE: To determine, for a woman aged >45 years, whether selected hormonal, health status, and demographic measures are related to the time to final menstrual period (FMP) from a point where 6 weeks separate the shortest and longest cycles experienced to date. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Volunteers in an academic research environment. PATIENT(S): Ninety-nine menstruating women aged 46 years to 55 years on entry completed menstrual diaries, gave annual blood samples, and were interviewed annually. They were observed for a mean period of 1.5 years. Seventy-seven reached FMP during observation. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Time to reach FMP from the date of a marker event-the difference between the longest and shortest of recent cycles reaching 6 weeks. RESULT(S): Women self-rating as in the transition have a greater "hazard" or probability of FMP at any time after the marker event. Allowing for this and other covariates, the hazard is estimated to increase by 30% (confidence interval [CI]: 10%, 60%) for each year of age and 50% (CI: 7%, 118%) for each unit increase in log FSH, measured at the time of the marker event. CONCLUSION(S): For women aged >45 years, the time remaining in the menopausal transition from the day on which >or=6 weeks separate the longest and shortest recent cycles is related to self-rating of menopausal status and to serum FSH level. The median number of months remaining ranges from 11 for those with FSH of >20 IU/L and who see themselves as in transition to 21 months for those with lower FSH and who notice little evidence of being in transition.
Authors: Siobán D Harlow; Kevin Cain; Sybil Crawford; Lorraine Dennerstein; Roderick Little; Ellen S Mitchell; Bin Nan; John F Randolph; John Taffe; Matheos Yosef Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2006-06-13 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: M Tish Knobf; Karl Insogna; Loretta DiPietro; Christopher Fennie; A Siobhan Thompson Journal: Biol Res Nurs Date: 2008-07 Impact factor: 2.522
Authors: Siobán D Harlow; Ellen S Mitchell; Sybil Crawford; Bin Nan; Roderick Little; John Taffe Journal: Fertil Steril Date: 2007-08-06 Impact factor: 7.329