Factors associated with onset of menopause in women aged 45–49

doi:10.1016/0378-5122(94)90057-4

Maturitas

Volume 19, Issue 2, August 1994, Pages 83-92

https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-5122(94)90057-4 Get rights and content

Abstract

This paper uses a cross-sectional sample of women aged 45–49 to investigate factors that might be associated with an early menopause. Using logistic regression analysis we found that age, smoking, age of maternal menopause, parity, social class, meat and alcohol consumption were all independently associated with an early natural menopause. Meat, alcohol consumption and maternal menopausal age do not seem to have been previously noted as associated with the timing of the menopause. These associations would merit further study, preferably using prospective data. However, this study in line with much previous work shows that smoking is associated with a reduction in menopausal age.

References (26)

JF Aloia et al.
Risk factors for postmenopausal osteoporosis
Am J Med
(1985)
C La Vecchia et al.
The role of age at menarche and at menopause on breast cancer risk: combined evidence from four case-control studies
Ann Oncol
(1992)
S McKinlay et al.
The normal menopause transition
Maturitas
(1992)
PA Kaufert et al.
Defining menopausal status: the impact of longitudinal data
Maturitas
(1987)
H Jick et al.
Relationship between smoking and age of natural menopause
Lancet
(1977)
JA Baron et al.
The antiestrogenic effect of cigarette smoking in women
Am J Obstet Gynecol
(1990)
A Holte et al.
Psychosocial determinants of climacteric complaints
Maturitas
(1991)
JL Stanford et al.
Factors influencing the age at natural menopause
J Chron Dis
(1987)
FE Okonofua et al.
Features of menopause and menopausal age in Nigerian women
Int J Gynecol Obstet
(1990)
S London et al.
Alcohol and other dietary factors in relation to serum hormone concentrations in women at climacteric
Am J Clin Nutr
(1991)

P Hill et al.

Diet and follicular development

Am J Clin Nutr

(1984)

PB Hill et al.

Gonadotrphin release and meat consumption in vegetarian women

Am J Clin Nutr

(1986)

AB Pedersen et al.

Menstrual differences due to vegetarian and nonvegetarian diets

Am J Clin Nutr

(1991)

Cited by (159)

Primary ovarian insufficiency has strong familiality: results of a multigenerational genealogical study
2023, Fertility and Sterility
To determine the familiality of primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) at population level through examination of multigenerational genealogical information linked to electronic medical records.
Case-control study.
Not applicable.
Women with POI were identified using International Classification of Disease 9 and 10 codes in electronic medical records (1995–2021) from 2 major health care systems in Utah and reviewed for accuracy. Cases were linked to genealogy information in the Utah Population Database (UPDB). All included POI cases (n = 396) were required to have genealogy information available for at least 3 generations of ancestors. The risk of POI in relatives was compared with population rates for POI matched by age, sex, and birthplace.
Not applicable.
Relative risk of POI in first-, second-, and third-degree relatives.
We identified 396 validated cases of POI with an associated 2,132 first-degree relatives, 5,245 second-degree relatives, and 10,853 third-degree relatives. We found an increased risk of POI among the extended relatives of cases. Specifically, first-degree relatives demonstrated an 18-fold increased risk of POI compared with controls relative risk ([RR],18.52 95% confidence interval [CI], 10.12–31.07), second-degree relatives demonstrated a 4-fold increase (RR, 4.21; CI, 1.15–10.79), and third-degree relatives demonstrated a 2.7-fold increase (RR, 2.65; CI, 1.14–5.21]).
This is the first population-based study to assess the familial clustering of POI. The data demonstrate excess familiality, familial clustering of POI in excess compared with matched population rates of disease, among first-, second-, and third-degree relatives. These findings support a genetic contribution to POI.
resultados de un estudio genealógico multigeneracional.
Determinar la asociación familiar de la insuficiencia ovárica primaria (POI) a nivel de la población a través del examen de la información genealógica multigeneracional conectada a historias clínicas electrónicas.
Estudio caso control.
no aplicable.
Mujeres con POI fueron identificadas usando la clasificación internacional de enfermedad códigos 9 y 10 en las historias clínicas electrónicas (1995-2021) desde 2 importantes Sistemas de cuidado de salud en Utah y revisados para precisión. Los casos fueron conectados a la información genealógica en la base de datos de la población de Utah (UPDB). En todos los casos POI incluídos (n = 396) era requerido tener información genealógica disponible por al menos 3 generaciones de ancestros. El riesgo de POI en parientes fue comparado con tasas de población para POI emparejados por edad, sexo, y lugar de nacimiento.
no aplicable.
Riesgo relativo de POI en primero, segundo o tercer grado de parentesco.
Identificamos 396 casos validados de POI con una asociación con 2132 familiares de primer grado, 5245 familiares de segundo grado, y 10853 familiares de tercer grado. Encontramos un riesgo incrementado de POI entre casos de la familia extendida. Específicamente, los familiares de primer grado demostraron un aumento de 18 veces de POI comparados con controles (riesgo relativo (RR), 18.5 95% intervalo de confianza (CI) 10.12- 31.07), los familiares de segundo grado demostraron incremento de 4 veces (RR, 4.21; CI, 1.15 – 10.79), y los de tercer grado demostraron un aumento de 2.7 veces (RR, 2.65; CI, 1.14 – 5.21).
Este es el primer estudio basado en la población para asesorar al grupo familiar de POI. Los datos demuestran exceso en la familiaridad, grupos familiares de POI en exceso en comparación con tasas en población emparejada de enfermedad, entre primero, segundo y tercer grado de parentesco. Estos hallazgos apoyan una contribución genética a POI.
Does Mediterranean diet could have a role on age at menopause and in the management of vasomotor menopausal symptoms? The viewpoint of the endocrinological nutritionist
2021, Current Opinion in Food Science
Menopause marks the end of a woman’s reproductive lifespan and it is represented by the permanent cessation of the spontaneous menstrual cycle. Several environmental factors have been associated to both menopause and vasomotor menopausal symptoms, nevertheless the current evidence of the association between menopause, vasomotor menopausal symptoms with diet has not yet been thoroughly investigated and present evidence of this association are discordant. Mediterranean diet is a healthy dietary pattern characterized by plant-based foods with a high intake of phenolic compounds present in the foods of this dietary pattern, including extra-virgin olive oil, whole-grain cereals, nuts, legumes, vegetables, fish, red wine, and fruits. Dietary factors could influence the sex hormones concentrations and the timing of natural menopause. Therefore, in this narrative review we have evaluated actual evidence on the relationship of Mediterranean diet with menopausal age and the incidence and severity of vasomotor menopausal symptoms, reporting observational studies and providing insights on physiopatological mechanisms.
Suprainguinal peripheral artery disease-Topics for future investigation
2021, Vascular Disease in Women: An Overview of the Literature and Treatment Recommendations
Current practice guidelines for the management of suprainguinal peripheral vascular disease continue to be principally derived from data with male-predominant patient populations. Despite targeted research toward sex disparity in cardiovascular health and diseases, there is no clear consensus on prognosis and best management for women with aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD). Indeed, many studies that indicate comparative investigation between male and female subjects often report statistical differences in the outcomes rather than conducting sex-specific treatment arms or analyses. Those that do derive sex-distinguished outcomes often have contradictory conclusions to other reported investigations.
There are no randomized controlled studies from which to derive consensus. Prognostic and outcome specific data for women with aortoiliac occlusive disease remains unclear, both because it affects reproductive health as well as perspectives regarding optimum medical versus operative management. We discuss areas of future investigation to increase awareness of the gaps of knowledge that may ultimately lead to disparities in practice.
Dietary patterns and age at natural menopause: Evidence from the UK Women's Cohort Study
2021, Maturitas
Citation Excerpt :
As no previous study has specifically investigated dietary patterns in relation to the timing of natural menopause direct comparison with other studies is impossible. However, in line with the few studies that have evaluated the association between food groups or individual food items and age at natural menopause, a later onset of menopause has been demonstrated with the consumption of meat [11,21]. On the other hand, according to a recent study including women from the Nurses’ Health Study II, a higher risk of an earlier menopause was reported with each serving per day of red meat and no evidence of an association was demonstrated between animal protein intake and an early menopause [22].
To investigate prospective associations between dietary patterns and age of natural menopause.
Menopausal status was reported at two time points 4  years apart in the UK Women’s Cohort Study (UKWCS). Diet of participants was measured using a 217-item food frequency questionnaire at baseline. Principal component analysis (PCA) and reduced rank regression (RRR) were used to derive dietary patterns for 13,916 women. Cox proportional hazards regressions were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) for each pattern in relation to age at natural menopause, adjusting for potential confounders.
Five patterns were identified from the PCA, labelled as: ‘vegetables and legumes’, ‘animal proteins’, ‘fruits’, ‘fats and sweets’ and ‘low-fat products’. Three patterns were derived from RRR: ‘sweets, pastries and puddings’, ‘low-fat dairy and meat’, and ‘red meat and processed meat’. Women who scored 1 standard deviation higher on the ‘animal proteins’ pattern were 6% more likely to experience a later natural menopause over the study (HR = 0.94, 95 % CI: 0.90–0.97) compared with those who scored lower. The ‘red meat and processed meat’ pattern similary predicted a 7% higher risk for a later menopause during the study (HR = 0.93, 95 % CI: 0.87–1.00) per 1 standard deviation.
Women whose diets are highly loaded with animal proteins, as well as red and processed meats, are more likely to have a later natural menopause.
The association of age at menopause and all-cause and cause-specific mortality by race, postmenopausal hormone use, and smoking status
2019, Preventive Medicine Reports
While a mean age at menopause of 51 years has been reported in the United States (U.S.), some U.S. women experience menopause before age 45, possibly increasing risk of cardiovascular mortality; however, the role in all-cause and cerebrovascular-related mortality is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between age at menopause and all-cause and cause-specific mortality by race, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use, and smoking status. REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) is a population-based study of 30,239 participants aged ≥45 years enrolled between 2003 and 2007 of whom 14,361 were postmenopausal women. Age at menopause was defined as <45 (early) or ≥45. All-cause and cause-specific mortality were ascertained through 2013. Cox proportional hazards models estimated hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between age at menopause and mortality, adjusting for baseline measures. Of 11,287 eligible women (6403 white; 4884 black), mean menopause age was 45.2 (SD 7.9) with 1524 deaths over 7.1 years. Significant interactions were detected between early age at menopause (39%) and HRT use in association with all-cause mortality (p < 0.01), mortality from coronary heart disease (p = 0.06), and mortality from all other causes (p = 0.04). An association between early age at menopause and all-cause mortality was observed among ever-HRT users (HR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.10–1.56), but not never-HRT users (HR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.85–1.20). There were no differences in associations examined by race or smoking status. Increased all-cause mortality risk was observed for ever-HRT users with menopause before age 45.
Relationship between alcohol consumption and age at menopause: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
2017, Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Citation Excerpt :
And Faut et al. also reported that alcohol drinking was related with oxidative stress which have been associated with ovarian damage in female rats [20]. However, most other studies found alcohol consumption had a positive correlation with age at menopause or was not associated with age at menopause [21–26]. Kinney et al. reported that alcohol consumption was not related to any ovarian age indicator (antral follicle count, follicle-stimulating hormone, inhibin B, and estradiol) in the data for 188 women [21].
We used data from the 2011–2014 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) to investigate whether the age at menopause is related to alcohol consumption in South Korean women.
This was a cross-sectional study of the data for 940 women who became menopausal within the 3 years preceding the KNHANES.
The numbers of nondrinkers, mild to moderate drinkers, and heavy drinkers in this group were 345 (34.7%), 573 (62.2%), and 22 (3%). Body mass index (BMI), smoking, and exercise were adjusted in model 1 and age was additionally adjusted in model 2. The mean ages at menopause were 51.6 ± 0.2, 50.8 ± 0.1, and 50.4 ± 0.5 years (p = 0.0025) in model 1 and 51.7 ± 0.2, 51.1 ± 0.1, and 50.1 ± 0.5 years (p = 0.0018) in model 2 for nondrinkers, mild to moderate drinkers, and heavy drinkers, respectively. BMI, smoking, exercise, educational level, income, duration of menopause, age at menarche, age at first delivery, and gravidity were adjusted in model 3, and the respective mean ages at menopause were 51.3 ± 0.2, 50.7 ± 0.2, and 50.1 ± 0.8 years (p = 0.0402). The population was classified into groups using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores of <5 (n = 778), <10 (n = 108), and ≥10 score (n = 54). The mean ages at menopause according to AUDIT score were 51.3 ± 0.1, 50.5 ± 0.3, and 50.4 ± 0.4 years (p = 0.0222, model 1), 51.4 ± 0.1, 50.8 ± 0.3, and 50.8 ± 0.3 years (p = 0.0261, model 2), and 51.1 ± 0.1, 50.6 ± 0.4, and 49.5 ± 0.6 years (p = 0.0241, model 3) respectively.
In Korean women, alcohol consumption was associated with younger age at menopause. A higher AUDIT score was also related to younger age at menopause.

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

Factors associated with onset of menopause in women aged 45–49

Abstract

Am J Med

Ann Oncol

Maturitas

Maturitas

Lancet

Am J Obstet Gynecol

Maturitas

J Chron Dis

Int J Gynecol Obstet

Am J Clin Nutr

Am J Clin Nutr

Am J Clin Nutr

Am J Clin Nutr