Risk factors for natural menopause before the age of 45: evidence from two British population-based birth cohort studies
Abstract Background Menopause that occurs before the age of 45 and is not medically induced (referred to here as ‘early natural menopause’) affects around one in 10 women and has serious health consequences. These consequences include increased risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, os...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Women's Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-022-02021-4 |
| _version_ | 1798018365468442624 |
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| author | Darina Peycheva Alice Sullivan Rebecca Hardy Alex Bryson Gabriella Conti George Ploubidis |
| author_facet | Darina Peycheva Alice Sullivan Rebecca Hardy Alex Bryson Gabriella Conti George Ploubidis |
| author_sort | Darina Peycheva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Menopause that occurs before the age of 45 and is not medically induced (referred to here as ‘early natural menopause’) affects around one in 10 women and has serious health consequences. These consequences include increased risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and type 2 diabetes. Methods We investigate risk factors for the onset of natural menopause before the age of 45 in two population-based prospective cohort studies in Britain: the 1958 cohort following 8959 women and the 1970 cohort following 8655 women. These studies follow women from birth to adulthood, and we use harmonized data on birth and early life characteristics, reproductive health, health behaviour, and socioeconomic characteristics for 6805 women who were pre-menopausal, peri-menopausal or had undergone natural menopause. Of these 6805 women, 3614 participated in the 1958 cohort (of which 368 had early menopause) and 3191 participated in the 1970 cohort (of which 206 had early menopause). Taking a life course approach, we focus on three distinct life stages - birth/early life, childhood, and early adulthood - to understand when risk factors are most harmful. Respecting the temporal sequence of exposures, we use a series of multivariable logistic regression models to estimate associations between early menopause and each potential risk factor adjusted for confounders. Results We find that early menopause is influenced by circumstances at birth. Women born in lower social class families, whose mother smoked during the pregnancy or who were breastfed 1 month or less were more likely to undergo early menopause. Early menopause is also associated with poorer cognitive ability and smoking in childhood. Adult health behaviour also matters. Smoking is positively correlated with early menopause, while regular exercise and moderate frequency of alcohol drinking in women’s early thirties are associated with reduced risk of early menopause. The occurrence of gynaecological problems by women’s early thirties is also linked to early menopause. Conclusions We demonstrate that characteristics at different periods of life are associated with early menopause. Some of these associations relate to modifiable behaviours and thus the risks of early menopause and the adverse health outcomes associated with it may be preventable. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T16:22:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-052a9e1aa33d40c780d9f29022b21ed0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6874 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T16:22:51Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-052a9e1aa33d40c780d9f29022b21ed02022-12-22T04:14:16ZengBMCBMC Women's Health1472-68742022-11-0122112010.1186/s12905-022-02021-4Risk factors for natural menopause before the age of 45: evidence from two British population-based birth cohort studiesDarina Peycheva0Alice Sullivan1Rebecca Hardy2Alex Bryson3Gabriella Conti4George Ploubidis5Social Research Institute, University College LondonSocial Research Institute, University College LondonSocial Research Institute, University College LondonSocial Research Institute, University College LondonSocial Research Institute, University College LondonSocial Research Institute, University College LondonAbstract Background Menopause that occurs before the age of 45 and is not medically induced (referred to here as ‘early natural menopause’) affects around one in 10 women and has serious health consequences. These consequences include increased risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and type 2 diabetes. Methods We investigate risk factors for the onset of natural menopause before the age of 45 in two population-based prospective cohort studies in Britain: the 1958 cohort following 8959 women and the 1970 cohort following 8655 women. These studies follow women from birth to adulthood, and we use harmonized data on birth and early life characteristics, reproductive health, health behaviour, and socioeconomic characteristics for 6805 women who were pre-menopausal, peri-menopausal or had undergone natural menopause. Of these 6805 women, 3614 participated in the 1958 cohort (of which 368 had early menopause) and 3191 participated in the 1970 cohort (of which 206 had early menopause). Taking a life course approach, we focus on three distinct life stages - birth/early life, childhood, and early adulthood - to understand when risk factors are most harmful. Respecting the temporal sequence of exposures, we use a series of multivariable logistic regression models to estimate associations between early menopause and each potential risk factor adjusted for confounders. Results We find that early menopause is influenced by circumstances at birth. Women born in lower social class families, whose mother smoked during the pregnancy or who were breastfed 1 month or less were more likely to undergo early menopause. Early menopause is also associated with poorer cognitive ability and smoking in childhood. Adult health behaviour also matters. Smoking is positively correlated with early menopause, while regular exercise and moderate frequency of alcohol drinking in women’s early thirties are associated with reduced risk of early menopause. The occurrence of gynaecological problems by women’s early thirties is also linked to early menopause. Conclusions We demonstrate that characteristics at different periods of life are associated with early menopause. Some of these associations relate to modifiable behaviours and thus the risks of early menopause and the adverse health outcomes associated with it may be preventable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-022-02021-4Early menopauseRisk factorsLife courseBirth cohortSocial classBreastfeeding |
| spellingShingle | Darina Peycheva Alice Sullivan Rebecca Hardy Alex Bryson Gabriella Conti George Ploubidis Risk factors for natural menopause before the age of 45: evidence from two British population-based birth cohort studies BMC Women's Health Early menopause Risk factors Life course Birth cohort Social class Breastfeeding |
| title | Risk factors for natural menopause before the age of 45: evidence from two British population-based birth cohort studies |
| title_full | Risk factors for natural menopause before the age of 45: evidence from two British population-based birth cohort studies |
| title_fullStr | Risk factors for natural menopause before the age of 45: evidence from two British population-based birth cohort studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Risk factors for natural menopause before the age of 45: evidence from two British population-based birth cohort studies |
| title_short | Risk factors for natural menopause before the age of 45: evidence from two British population-based birth cohort studies |
| title_sort | risk factors for natural menopause before the age of 45 evidence from two british population based birth cohort studies |
| topic | Early menopause Risk factors Life course Birth cohort Social class Breastfeeding |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-022-02021-4 |
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