Genes and timing of menopause

An international team of researchers has discovered 13 new regions of the genome associated with the timing of menopause. These genes shed light on the biological pathways involved in reproductive lifespan and will provide insights into conditions connected to menopause, such as breast cancer and heart disease.

Menopause is a major hormonal change that affects most women when they are in their early 50s. The timing of menopause can have a huge impact on fertility, as well as influencing the risk of a range of common diseases such as breast cancer. It has been known for some time that genetic factors influenced the onset of menopause, however until recently very few genes had been identified.

In the new study, published in the journal Nature Genetics on 22 January 2012, Dr Anna Murray, University of Exeter, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (PCMD) Dr John Perry, PCMD and WTCHG, University of Oxford, and dozens of international collaborators, examined the genomes of over 50,000 women. They identified 13 novel gene regions associated with menopause onset, and confirmed four previously identified. Most of the 17 regions include genes related to DNA damage/repair or the immune system, whilst others are linked to hormonal regulation.

Dr Perry said: "The new findings highlight biological pathways not previously associated with reproductive lifespan, and may provide insights into the other conditions connected with menopause age, such as cardiovascular disease and breast cancer."

The association with breast cancer is related to the length of time a woman menstruates in total and is thought to be related to oestrogen exposure over a lifetime - in fact earlier menopause is protective for breast cancer. Cardiovascular risk is increased in post-menopausal women compared to pre-menopausal and reduced oestrogen is thought to be a key component of this increased risk. Genetic studies will be beneficial in working out exactly what the relationships are between these conditions.

There are many myths and misconceptions about menopause, but not a lot of solid menopause facts. The most inspiring fact is that women of the new millennium going through menopause are much more youthful than women of the past. The majority of women of menopausal age - I purposely did not say menopausal women, because it seems a limiting label-are active, employed or in business, energetic, and in top shape; indicating through their personal stories that they are happier and more productive than ever before in their lives.

Women entering their forties want answers to simple questions: What will be different when I am in menopause? How will I know when it starts? The fact is, you might not now when it begins. Other than a change in your periods, you may not feel any different. Each woman experiences it differently. In pre or peri-menopause, you may start to have irregular periods - heavy bleeding or light bleeding one month and then no periods for several months, or a light period every month (or any combination of these).