Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health
Search Icon Created with Sketch.
Icons / Login Created with Sketch.
Icons / User Created with Sketch.
Search Icon Created with Sketch.

Oestrogen exposure index (OEI) for post-menopausal women

Approved: 2012

Collaborators:

  • Prof Gita Mishra
  • Prof Annette Dobson
  • Prof Julie Byles
  • Dr Danielle Herbert
  • Dr Geeske Peeters
  • Dr Gerrie-Cor Gast
  • Ms Lee Jones
  • Dr Jeeva Kanesarajah
  • Dr Michael Waller
  • Dr Hsin-Fang Chung

Synopsis

Lifetime exposure to reproductive hormones may protect post-menopausal women from chronic disease and poor mental health. During their reproductive lives, many women are exposed to natural oestrogen during pregnancy, and synthetic oestrogen in the form of oral contraception. The use of hormone replacement therapy by peri-menopausal women can provide additional exposure to synthetic oestrogen. The aim of this project is to develop an oestrogen exposure index (OEI) for post-menopausal women (i.e., the 1946-51 cohort), of whom 92% have had at least one pregnancy, and examine the relationship between women’s OEI and their post-menopausal risk of chronic disease, cognition, and well-being.