Endocrine Abstracts

In the past decades postponement of childbearing has led to increased rates of age related female subfertility. Reproductive ageing in the female is almost exclusively based on changes in the ovaries. The decrease in follicle numbers and reduction of oocyte quality dictate the occurrence of menopause and natural loss of fecundity, respectively. The decline in fertility with age has been clearly shown in assisted reproduction technology (ART) programs. The rate of ovarian agein...

Several reasons exist for wishing to have advance notice of the timing of menopause. Since menopause relates strongly to the occurrence of natural infertility some 10 years earlier, long-term prediction of menopause may help women to timely start attempts to have children. If premature or early menopause could be predicted, preventive measures could be taken in order to minimise the related long-term health risks. Incipient ovarian failure in terms of the current inability to ...