The goal of this research is to enhance our ability to utilize menstrual cycle diaries and menstrual histories as epidemiologic tools in the investigation of risk factors for reproductive dysfunction and of hormonally-mediated risk factors for chronic disease. Two basic problems will be addressed: 1) How to define consistent, biologically meaningful menstrual cycle endpoints for use in epidemiologic research; and 2) How to analyze menstrual diary data. The natural variability in menstrual cycle patterns within women across the reproductive lifespan will be characterized. Change in cycle length from cycle to cycle within women will be quantified and age-specific changes in the population distribution of cycle length and cycle variability will also be evaluated. A strategy for analyzing menstrual diary data will be developed by applying existing statistical methods for longitudinal data. New statistical methodology will also be developed. Efficient study protocols to obtain data on menstrual cycle patterns among low-income and minority women across the reproductive life span will then be designed, as currently available US data is generally limited to white, college-educated women. The primary source will be lifetime menstrual records for 942 women from the Tremin Trust, a unique prospective study of menstrual cycle patterns which utilized menstrual diaries. Daily urinary hormone data for nonconception cycles from a prospective study of early pregnancy loss will also be examined. This proposal is designed to redress fundamental gaps in knowledge about menstrual cycle characteristics over the life course and to provide substantive data to guide the design and direction of future epidemiologic research.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
First Independent Research Support & Transition (FIRST) Awards (R29)
Project #
5R29HD030373-04
Application #
2202712
Study Section
Epidemiology and Disease Control Subcommittee 2 (EDC)
Project Start
1992-09-01
Project End
1997-08-31
Budget Start
1995-09-01
Budget End
1996-08-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1995
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
791277940
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
Lisabeth, Lynda; Harlow, Sioban; Qaqish, Bahjat (2004) A new statistical approach demonstrated menstrual patterns during the menopausal transition did not vary by age at menopause. J Clin Epidemiol 57:484-96
Harlow, S D; Baird, D D; Weinberg, C R et al. (2000) Urinary oestrogen patterns in long follicular phases. Hum Reprod 15:6-Nov
Harlow, S D; Lin, X; Ho, M J (2000) Analysis of menstrual diary data across the reproductive life span applicability of the bipartite model approach and the importance of within-woman variance. J Clin Epidemiol 53:722-33
Geller, S E; Harlow, S D; Bernstein, S J (1999) Differences in menstrual bleeding characteristics, functional status, and attitudes toward menstruation in three groups of women. J Womens Health Gend Based Med 8:533-40
Lin, X; Raz, J; Harlow, S D (1997) Linear mixed models with heterogeneous within-cluster variances. Biometrics 53:910-23
Harlow, S D; Campbell, B; Lin, X et al. (1997) Ethnic differences in the length of the menstrual cycle during the postmenarcheal period. Am J Epidemiol 146:572-80
Harlow, S D; Park, M (1996) A longitudinal study of risk factors for the occurrence, duration and severity of menstrual cramps in a cohort of college women. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 103:1134-42
Harlow, S D; Campbell, B (1996) Ethnic differences in the duration and amount of menstrual bleeding during the postmenarcheal period. Am J Epidemiol 144:980-8
Harlow, S D; Campbell, B C (1994) Host factors that influence the duration of menstrual bleeding. Epidemiology 5:352-5