Follicle-stimulating Hormone Receptor and DAZL Gene Polymorphisms Do Not Affect the Age of Menopause

Objective: To evaluate whether single nucleotide FSH receptor and DAZL gene polymorphisms are associated with menarche and menopause timing.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Siena and Münster Universities.

Patient(s): Physiologically menopausal women.

Intervention(s): The presence of FSH receptor or DAZL gene polymorphisms was investigated. Blood samples were collected and polymorphisms evaluated in extracted genomic DNA.

Main Outcome Measure(s): 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.

Result(s): 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.

Conclusion(s): 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.