Relationship of menopausal symptoms and ovarian reserve in reproductive-aged cancer survivors

Anat Chemerinski, Katherine Cameron, Mary Sammel, Jill Ginsberg, Claire Carlson, Clarisa Gracia

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: This study sought to evaluate the prevalence of menopausal symptoms in a population of reproductive-aged women remote from cancer therapy compared with a group of healthy similar-aged controls and with a cohort of late reproductive-aged (LR) controls. Methods: Participants were assessed for symptoms of menopause, early follicular phase hormones, and ultrasound examinations. Menopausal symptoms were analyzed in exposed participants and controls using χ2 analyses, Wilcoxon-Mann Whitney tests, and multivariable logistic regression models. Results: One hundred seventy cancer survivors, 135 similar-aged controls, and 71 LR controls were followed prospectively for an average of 38 months. Compared with similar-aged controls, a greater proportion of survivors reported vasomotor symptoms at some point over the study period (35% vs 19%, p < 0.01), and this proportion was similar to LR controls (44%, p = 0.22). Survivors were more likely to be bothered by vaginal dryness (27%) than similar-aged controls (16%, p = 0.02) or LR controls (14%, p = 0.02). FSH levels were 38.4% higher in those with vasomotor symptoms compared with those without symptoms (p = 0.021). Conclusions: Reproductive-aged cancer survivors have a higher prevalence of vasomotor symptoms and vaginal dryness than their similar-aged peers. Implications for Cancer Survivors: Providers should be attuned to the high prevalence of menopausal symptoms in cancer survivors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)607-613
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Cancer Survivorship
Volume14
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anti-Mullerian hormone
  • Antral follicle count
  • Menopause
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Vasomotor symptoms

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology(nursing)
  • Oncology

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