EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDY OF THE LATE REPRODUCTIVE YEARS

描述：（改编自研究者摘要）这是一项前瞻性研究。 非裔美国人和高加索妇女晚期卵巢老化研究 生育年龄，从35-47岁开始，一直持续到45-52岁。的 具体目标是：1）比较激素动力学（FSFL雌二醇，DHEAS）， 非裔美国人和高加索妇女之间的卵泡产物分泌; 2） 评估研究期间的绝经相关症状，并比较其 非裔美国人和高加索妇女之间的严重程度和变化;以及 将身体和心理因素（体重，潮热， 抑郁症，陡峭的干扰和其他）与激素水平，波动和 变化率，并比较两个种族群体之间的关联。的 研究是用随机确定的基于人口的样本进行的， 约400名女性。研究的第二阶段有四个年度 随访期，每1个月进行两次评估，总计 8次访视，采集血液样本进行激素测定和问卷调查 数据超过80%的美国女性经历过身体或心理上的 在过渡到绝经期的症状具有不同程度的严重性， 破坏正常功能。这些症状是否通常归因于 绝经期与更年期的荷尔蒙变化有关 生育年龄不太清楚。降低质量的症状 生活是一个重大问题的妇女谁经历他们，他们的 关系和生产力。对症状了解不多， 它们与生物和环境因素的联系是一个问题， 当痛苦的妇女寻求医疗救济时，提供保健服务。这项研究提供了 关于症状之间关联的种族差异的第一个信息 以及非洲裔美国人和 白种女人调查人员表示，调查结果还将告知 临床医生解决妇女在生育后期的生育问题 年，并将增加对生殖老化在 绝经后妇女发病率和死亡率增加。

DESCRIPTION: (Adapted from the Investigator's Abstract) This is a prospective study of ovarian aging in African American and Caucasian women in their late reproductive years, commencing at ages 35-47 and continuing to ages 45-52. The specific aims are to 1) compare hormone dynamics (FSFL estradiol, DHEAS) and the follicular product inhibin between African American and Caucasian women; 2) evaluate menopause-related symptoms over the study period and compare their severity and changes between African American and Caucasian women; and correlate physical and psychological factors (body mass, hot flashes, depression, steep disturbance and others) with hormone levels, fluctuations and rates of change and compare the associations between the two racial groups. The study is conducted with a randomly-identified population-based sample of approximately 400 women. The second phase of the study has four annual follow-up periods, each with two assessments at 1-month intervals, for a total of eight visits to collect blood samples for hormone assays and questionnaire data. More than 8O percent of U.S. women experience physical or psychological symptoms in the transition to menopause with varying degrees of severity and disruption of normal functioning. Whether these symptoms commonly attributed to the menopause are associated with the hormonal changes of the waning reproductive years is not well understood. Symptoms that diminish quality of life are a significant problem for women who experience them, their relationships and their productivity. Poor understanding of the symptoms and their associations with biological and environmental factors is a problem for health care when distressed women seek medical relief. This study provides the first information on racial differences in the associations between symptoms and the changing hormonal milieu compared between African American and Caucasian women. The investigators state that the findings will also inform clinicians addressing fertility problems of women in the late reproductive years and will increase understanding of the role of reproductive aging in the increased morbidity and mortality of postmenopausal women.