[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNopQq5lWqQ&feature=related]
The severity of menopause symptoms are associated with the season in which you are born.
Sounds pretty far-fetched right?
Evidently, it’s not.
A few years ago, Italian researchers conducted a study of 2,541 women who were undergoing menopause and not taking HRT. Information was collected on physical, vasomotor (i.e. hot flashes, night sweats) and psychological symptoms (e.g. anxiety, depression), which were then rated by severity and grouped by the season of birth. The researchers also controlled for factors that could potentially interfere with the study results, including age, number of years in menopause, body mass index, education, occupation and smoking habits.
The findings, which were published in the Menopause journal in 2006, demonstrated a relationship between season of birth and menopause symptoms. For example, women born in Autumn had the least severe symptoms while women born in Spring had the most. This same association held true for anxiety and depression and physical symptoms.
This got me thinking. If season of birth affected how severe menopause symptoms were, could it also affect when menopause started.? So, I delved a bit deeper.
Turns out that a study published in the journal Maturitas in 2006 shows that menopause onset is also seasonally-regulated. Among 2,436 women studied, the onset of menopause was significantly more frequent in Winter (32.5%) than in Spring (20.8%), Autumn (20.3%) and Summer (26.2%).
I’m taking an informal poll on menopause onset and its relationship to seasons. I’d love your feedback and participation so please, spread the word!
[polldaddy poll=”981919″]
[polldaddy poll=”984809″]
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- EVERYONE loves a girl fight (vol. 2) « i could cry but i don’t have time - [...] all my menopausal readers, do me a favor please visit my BBFF at Flashfree and take her menopause poll. …
- Survey says… « Flashfree - [...] I created an informal poll last week after reading two studies that suggested a seasonal timing to menopause onset…
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The earlier research results would not work for my sister and myself. Our birthdays are 2 days apart and in Spring. I had an easy Menopause, she had a prolonged and difficult one.
Sorry, could not fill your survey as not sure when my menopause SYMPTOMS started. What does the question mean?
Hi Lilly. What the question means is “in which season” did your menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, irregular period, etc, start.
My worst symptoms were during peri menopause. I remember putting down
my hands on a boardroom table and leaving sweaty imprints. Not cool
for a woman board member of a 2 billion dollar international company’s
boysclub. I took low dose estrogen….went off that…experienced worse symptoms and finally went thru full blown menopause at 54 (no periods for 12 months) and took Remifem…(black cohosh)
for 6 months. From 55 on I’ve been great … sex helps lots….I’m going to be 58 in Dec. and I thank god I don’t have periods anymore. Hang in there.
It will be ok.
OOOOH INTERESTING.
and Im dreading as it’s right around the proverbial corner.