Estrogen Receptor Polymorphism Predicts the Onset of Natural and Surgical Menopause

Abstract

Age at menopause and risk of hysterectomy have strong genetic components, but the genes involved remain ill defined.We investigated whether genetic variation at the estrogen receptor (ER) gene contributes to the variability in the onset of menopause in 900 postmenopausal women, aged 55-80 yr, of the Rotterdam Study, a population-based cohort study in The Netherlands.Gynecological information was obtained, and if women reported surgical menopause, validation of type and indication of surgery was accomplished by checking medical records.The ER genotypes (PP, Pp, and pp) were assessed by PCR using the PvuII endonuclease.Compared with women carrying the pp genotype, homozygous PP