Toxic metal exposure may affect women approaching menopause: Study

Middleaged women who are exposed to toxic metals may have fewer eggs in their ovaries as they approach menopause according to new researchDiminished ovarian reserve is when women have fewer eggs compared to others their age The condition may be linked to health problems such as hot flashes weak bones and a higher chance of heart disease said the researchers in the paper published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology amp MetabolismMenopause is a normal part of the ageing process a woman goes through that causes her monthly periods to endThe menopausal transition includes the years leading up to that point when women may experience symptoms such as changes in their monthly cycles hot flashes or night sweatsThe menopausal transition most often begins between the ages 45 and 55 and usually lasts about seven yearsStudies have linked heavy metals measured in urine with womens reproductive ageing and diminished ovarian reserve Heavy metals such as arsenic cadmium mercury and lead are commonly found in our drinking water air pollution and food contamination and are considered endocrinedisrupting chemicalsWidespread exposure to toxins in heavy metals may have a big impact on health problems linked to earlier ageing of the ovaries in middleaged women such as hot flashes bone weakening and osteoporosis higher chances of heart disease and cognitive declinerdquo said Sung Kyun Park associate professor of Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor USldquoOur study linked heavy metal exposure to lower levels of AntiMullerian hormone AMH in middleaged women AMH tells us roughly how many eggs are left in a womans ovaries its like a biological clock for the ovaries that can hint at health risks in middle age and later in liferdquo Park saidThe team studied 549 middleaged women who were transitioning to menopause and had evidence of heavy metals including arsenic cadmium mercury or lead in their urine samplesThey analysed data from AMH blood tests from up to 10 years before the womenrsquos final menstrual periodsThey found women with higher levels of metal in their urine were more likely to have lower AMH levels an indicator of diminished ovarian reserveldquoMetals including arsenic and cadmium possess endocrine disrupting characteristics and may be potentially toxic to the ovariesrdquo Park saidldquoWe need to study the younger population as well to fully understand the role of chemicals in diminished ovarian reserve and infertilityrdquoThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever