Trajectory clustering of estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone during the menopausal transition among women in the Study of Women's Health across the Nation (SWAN).

CONTEXT

Variability in the pattern of change in estradiol (E2) and FSH levels over the menopause transition has not been well defined.

OBJECTIVE

The current study aimed to determine whether different trajectories of E2 and FSH could be identified and whether race/ethnicity and body mass index were related to the different trajectories.

DESIGN

The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation is a longitudinal observational study of the menopausal transition.

SETTING

Women aged 42-52 yr from seven participating sites were recruited and underwent up to 11 annual visits.

PARTICIPANTS

Postmenopausal women with 12 or more months of amenorrhea that was not due to hysterectomy/oophorectomy and who were not using hormone therapy before the final menstrual period participated in the study.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Annual serum E2 and FSH levels anchored to final menstrual period were measured.

RESULTS

Four distinct E2 trajectories and three distinct FSH trajectories were identified. The E2 trajectories were: slow decline (26.9%), flat (28.6%), rise/slow decline (13.1%), and rise/steep decline (31.5%). The FSH trajectories were: low (10.6%), medium (48.7%), and high (41.7%) rising patterns. Obesity increased the likelihood of a flat E2 and low FSH trajectory for all race/ethnic groups. Normal-weight Caucasian and African-American women tended to follow the rise/steep decline E2 and high FSH trajectories. Normal-weight Chinese/Japanese women tended to follow the slow decline E2 and the high/medium FSH trajectories.

CONCLUSIONS

E2 and FSH trajectories over the menopausal transition are not uniform across the population of women. Race/ethnicity and body mass index affect the trajectory of both E2 and FSH change over the menopausal transition.