Abuse Linked to Women's Ovarian Function

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Friday November 23 5:23 PM ET

Abuse Linked to Women's Ovarian Function

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A history of physical or sexual abuse may affect

women's ovarian function, potentially leading to the early onset of

menopause, new research suggests.

The investigators say one reason their findings are concerning is that

menopause at a relatively young age may raise women's risk of heart disease.

Their study of 732 women aged 36 to 45 linked past experiences of physical

or sexual violence to women's hormone levels during their later reproductive

years. Specifically, women who were abused as children or teens showed

higher levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which stimulates

ovarian function. And abuse at any point in life was linked to lower

estrogen levels.

Researchers led by Jenifer E. Allsworth of the Brown University School of

Medicine in Providence, Rhode Island, report the findings in the November

issue of Epidemiology.

According to Allsworth and colleagues, trauma has been shown to affect the

body's complex hormonal system. The team hypothesized that abuse might

disrupt the hormonal regulation of the ovaries, possibly affecting women's

age at menopause.

These findings on FSH and estrogen lend credibility to that theory, the

report indicates.

Among the women surveyed, 59% reported ``some experience or fear of abuse''

in their lives. Abusive experiences included sexual assault and being

physically harmed ``more than a few times.''

Overall, women who reported some abuse during childhood or adolescence

showed higher FSH levels, but this was not true of women whose first abusive

experience occurred in adulthood.

For women younger than 40, only abuse during adulthood was related to lower

estrogen levels, while for those in their 40s, abuse at any point was linked

to decreased estrogen.

These findings suggest women with histories of abuse might be more likely

than others to go through early menopause, the researchers explain, which is

important because research has linked earlier menopause to a higher risk of

heart disease.

``Our results support the idea that physical and sexual violence may

potentially contribute to early onset of menopause, which may lead to

increased risk of cardiovascular disease after menopause,'' Allsworth and

colleagues conclude.

SOURCE: Epidemiology 2001;12:676-681.