The TREMIN Research Program on Women's Health
Findings from Selected Studies Using TREMIN Data
"Menstrual Cycle Patterns and Risk of Breast Cancer"
(N=925)
- Women with relatively short (< 26 days) or long (>34 days) menstrual cycles during ages 25 to 29 were at increased risk of developing breast cancer.
- Cycle variability (alternating long and short cycles) does not appear to increase the risk of breast cancer, except for highly variable cycles at ages 30-34 years.
Whelan, E.A., Sandler, D.P., Root, J.L., Smith, K.R. and Weinberg, C.R. American Journal of Epidemiology, 1994; 140: 1081-90.
"Qualities Midlife Women Desire in Their Sexual Relationships
and Their Changing Sexual Response"
(N=280)
- 40% of women surveyed reported a change in their sexual response, more often as decrements than increases, although desiring more nongenital touching was frequently noted.
- Respondents wanted more change in their own than in their partners' sexual qualities.
- The desire to change sexual qualities in oneself and in one's husband was significantly related to changes in sexual responsivity.
Mansfield, Phyllis Kernoff, Koch, Patricia Barthalow and Voda, Ann. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 22 (1998), 285-303.
"Menstrual and Reproductive Risk Factors for Ischemic Heart
Disease"
(N=867)
- Women with later age at first pregnancy (ages 33 or later) had small increased risk of heart attack ("ischemic heart disease").
- Later age at menarche was associated with a reduced risk of heart attack.
Cooper, G.S., Ephross, S.A., Weinberg, C.R., Baird, D.D., Whelan, E.A. and Sandler, D.P. Epidemiology, 10(3):1999, 255-260.
"Association of Physical and Behavioral Characteristics with
Menstrual Cycle Patterns in Women Age 29-31"
(N=766)
- Average menstrual cycle length was 29 days but ranged from 22 to 97 days. The average duration of bleeding around age 30 was 5 days (range 2 to 11).
- Thin women and physically active women reported longer menstrual cycle intervals (>42 days).
- Lean body mass, taller stature and smoking were associated with increased bleeding duration and physical activity was associated with shorter bleeding duration.
Cooper, G.S., Sandler, D.P., Whelan, E.A. and Smith, K.R. Epidemiology, 1996: 7:624-628.
"Long-term Effects of Reproductive-Age Menstrual Cycle Patterns
on Peri- and Post-Menopausal Fracture Risk"
(N=874)
- Longer menstrual cycle intervals (at ages 28-32) were associated with increased fracture risk, and a shorter bleeding duration was associated with reduced risk of fractures after menopause.
Cooper, G.S., and D.P. Sandler. American Journal of Epidemiology, 1997; 145:804-809.
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