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Researchers found that even slight changes in bleeding patterns were often associated with major changes in fertility-related hormone levels.
The observation could help women and their physicians identify the transition to menopause earlier than ever, they say.
Subtle changes in menstrual cycle length are among the first signs that a woman in her late reproductive years has begun the transition to menopause, a newly reported study shows.
Researchers found that even slight changes in bleeding patterns were often associated with major changes in fertility-related hormone levels.
The observation could help women and their physicians identify the transition to menopause earlier than ever, they say.
"I think it is fair to say that this very early stage of transition has not gotten much attention and has been difficult to characterize," says study co-author Ellen W. Freeman, PhD, of the School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
"This study suggests that these hormonal changes can be detected and measured earlier than has generally been assumed.
And changes in cycle length can predict these hormonal changes."
Age Is Poor Predictor
A woman is said to have reached menopause when she has not had a period for a year.
The average age when this occurs is 51.
But because some women reach menopause in their early 40s and others in their late 50s, age is a poor predictor of menopausal status.
The period of transition to menopause, when women often experience hot flashes and other hormonally driven symptoms, is widely accepted to last around four years.
But the new study shows that hormonal changes may often occur much earlier than this, Freeman says.
"This is important for women to know if they are having hot flashes or other symptoms," she tells WebMD.
"Physicians may not associate these symptoms with the transition to menopause in younger women."
The study involved 427 women between the ages of 35 and 47 who were followed for five years.
Researchers checked fertility-related hormone levels periodically, and the women also provided detailed information about the timing of their monthly cycles.
Estrogen is a hormone, a substance produced by the body.
It is needed for normal growth and development of female sex organs and for functions such as bearing children.
During menopause, the body's production of estrogen is decreased.
Estrogen replacement is used for symptoms associated with menopause: hot flashes (feelings of warmth in the face, neck, and chest), sweating, sleep disturbance, vaginal discomfort (dryness and itchiness), poor concentration, and irritability.
It also is used in the treatment of breast cancer in postmenopausal women and breast and prostate cancer in men.
