Table 1

Distribution of background characteristics in each analysis sample

CharacteristicsAge at menarche in years (n=8984)Age at menopause in years (n=945)Length of reproductive lifespan in years (n=841)
Age at delivery/enrolment28.5 (4.8)34.2 (3.4)34.2 (3.4)
Ethnicity
 White/European8798 (97.9)927 (98.1)823 (97.9)
 Other186 (2.1)18 (1.9)18 (2.1)
Educational qualifications
 A level or above3499 (39.0)555 (58.7)495 (58.9)
 O level or below5485 (61.0)390 (41.3)346 (41.1)
Parental highest educational qualifications
 A level or above1784 (19.9)232 (24.6)210 (25.0)
 O level or below4666 (51.9)489 (51.7)432 (51.4)
 Missing2534 (28.2)224 (23.7)199 (23.7)
Paternal occupation
 Non-manual3505 (39.0)487 (51.5)429 (51.0)
 Manual3806 (42.3)330 (35.0)296 (35.2)
 Missing1673 (18.6)128 (13.5)116 (13.8)