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Trisomic pregnancy and earlier age at menopause
1Epidemiology of Developmental Brain Disorders Department and Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York 10032, USA. jkk3@columbia.edu
American Journal of Human Genetics
|June 30, 2000
Summary
Advanced maternal age increases autosomal trisomy risk due to diminished oocyte pools. Women experiencing trisomic pregnancies tend to reach menopause earlier than those with normal pregnancies, supporting this link.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Human genetics
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Advanced maternal age is a known risk factor for autosomal trisomy.
- The underlying biological mechanism, particularly the role of oocyte pool size, requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that the association between advanced maternal age and autosomal trisomy is linked to a diminished oocyte pool.
- To investigate if menopause occurs earlier in women with trisomic pregnancies compared to those with chromosomally normal pregnancies.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of women aged over 44 in 1993, from a previous study of spontaneous abortions, were interviewed about their menstrual status.
- Parametric logistic survival analysis was used to compare median ages at menopause between women with trisomic spontaneous abortions, chromosomally normal spontaneous abortions, and chromosomally normal births.
Main Results:
- The median age at menopause was estimated to be 0.96 years earlier in women with trisomic losses compared to women with chromosomally normal losses or births.
- This finding remained consistent after adjusting for education, ethnicity, and smoking.
- The results support the hypothesis that a reduced oocyte pool increases trisomy risk.
Conclusions:
- The study supports the hypothesis linking increased trisomy risk with a diminished oocyte pool.
- Earlier menopause in women with trisomic pregnancies suggests a potential mechanism involving accelerated oocyte atresia or reduced oocyte formation during fetal development.