News of Interest for Late-in-Life Moms, August 4, 2008

News to know:

Mayo Clinic delivers Minnesota's first frozen embryo babies
Research at Mayo Clinic has led to a first in Minnesota — twin bay girls born from eggs that were frozen, then thawed before being fertilized in a petri dish.
The Star-Tribune reported the birth and said the doctors at the Mayo Clinic who treated the parents are now offering egg freezing as an option "for those with a good reason to use it."

Menopause raises risk of metabolic syndrome
Entering menopause increases a woman's chances of developing a collection of heart disease risk factors, according to a new study.
Researchers followed 949 U.S. women for nearly a decade and found the risk of developing metabolic syndrome increased during perimenopause. Perimenopause covers the years when a woman’s body begins to transition into menopause, usually starting somewhere in her 40s.
Metabolic syndrome refers to a cluster of risk factors for heart disease, stroke and diabetes, including: high blood pressure, abdominal obesity, high blood sugar, low levels of ”good” HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides. The syndrome is usually diagnosed when a person has three or more of these traits.