title: Follicle-stimulating hormone receptor and DAZL gene polymorphisms do not affect the age of menopause.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether single nucleotide FSH receptor and DAZL gene polymorphisms are associated with menarche and menopause timing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Siena and Münster Universities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physiologically menopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  The presence of FSH receptor or DAZL gene polymorphisms was investigated. Blood samples were collected and polymorphisms evaluated in extracted genomic DNA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Menarche age, menopausal age, and total years of fertility were evaluated on the basis of FSH receptor (genotypes Asn/Asn, Asn/Ser, and Ser/Ser at codon 680) and DAZL gene.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age of menarche was 13 years in the Asn/Asn group and 12 years in the Asn/Ser and Ser/Ser groups. The median age at menopause was 50 years in the Asn/Asn and Asn/Ser groups and 51 years in the Ser/Ser group. The length of the fertile period was 37 years in the Asn/Asn group, 38 years in the Asn/Ser group, and 39 years in the Ser/Ser group. Regarding the DAZL polymorphism, A/A, A/G, and G/G had the same age at menarche, age at menopause, and length of fertile period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that genotype of FSH receptor or SNP of DAZL do not predict the age at natural menopause and duration of fertility in women. The presence of Asn680/Asn680 genotype is associated with a slightly delayed age at menarche.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zerbetto
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gromoll
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Luisi
authors.forename: Fernando M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Eberhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nieschlag
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simoni
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petraglia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008572:Menarche / Q000235:genetics; D008593:Menopause / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011962:Receptors, FSH / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C101358:DAZL protein, human; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D011962:Receptors, FSH