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The grandmother hypothesisRECENT STUDIES have shown that, at least in female mice, ovaries make new eggs well into adulthood, contrary to decades of scientific thinking. Your March 16 editorial, "New evidence about eggs," focused solely on the prospects of this discovery for fertility regulation in aging women and discussed our findings only in light of another study, which raises doubts that extending a woman's fertility is necessarily a good thing for the species.
This editorial concluded that any additional children women might bear by delaying menopause could be offset by fewer grandchildren. In other words, under the guise of the grandmother hypothesis, an evolutionary purpose of menopause is for women in their golden years to assist with the raising of grandchildren rather than expend their efforts on additional childbearing. The goal of postponing menopause is not necessarily to extend fertile lifespan. Rather, our focus has been whether we can offer a better quality of life for women as they age if ways to delay menopause are eventually realized. The loss of ovarian function at menopause increases a woman's risk for debilitating health problems, and women today have few options in dealing with the consequences of this major life change. It is true and exciting that our findings may offer promising new fertility options for female cancer survivors or even, perhaps, women in their 40s who have elected to delay pregnancy because of lifestyle or career issues. It is equally important, however, that menopause-related health issues not be overlooked or brushed aside. Indeed, should the grandmother hypothesis hold merit, women would likely welcome safe new methods to improve their health and well-being with age. JONATHAN L. TILLY Boston © Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.
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