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Human Reproduction, Vol. 15, No. 1, 55-59, January 2000
© 2000 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Birth weight and age at menopause in Australian female twin pairs: exploration of the fetal origin hypothesis

Susan A.Treloar1,4, Sheda Sadrzadeh2, Kim-Anh Do1,3, Nicholas G.Martin1 and Cornelis B.Lambalk1,2

1 Epidemiology and Population Health Unit, Queensland Institute of Medical Research and Joint Genetics Program, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 2 Research Institute of Endocrinology, Reproduction and Metabolism, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands and 3 Department of Biostatistics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA

In a twin sample where duration of gestation can be controlled, a specific example of the fetal origins hypothesis concerning association between low birth weight and early age at menopause is explored. The hypothesis is based on the physiologically plausible path from intrauterine growth retardation and reduced numbers of primary follicles to an earlier menopause. The sample comprised 323 Australian female twin pairs where both co-twins had reached menopause naturally and reported on their weight at birth. Regression analysis showed no linear association between the two variables (P = 0.371, r2 = 0.0009). Intra-pair differences in age at menopause were investigated in the context of relative birth weight of co-twins. In 265 pairs an intra-pair birth weight difference was reported. In monozygotic (MZ) pairs (n = 168) this allowed for control of genetic effects as well as gestation duration. No significant differences dependent on birth weight relative to co-twin were found for age at natural menopause in either MZ or dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs, even in pairs whose birth weights differed markedly. There was some indication that twins with premature ovarian failure were heavier at birth than twins with normal or later menopausal age. We conclude that the hypothesis that lower birth weight is associated with earlier menopause is not supported by our data.

Key words: age at menopause/birth weight/fetal origin hypothesis/twins

4 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Queensland Institute of Medical Research, PO Royal Brisbane Hospital, Queensland 4029, Australia


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