The Age of Menopause and their Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Population-Based Study

Hachul H,Bittencourt L,Prado Mco,Polesel Dn,Andersen Ml,Tufik S,Nozoe Kt,Sanchez Zm

doi:10.4172/2167-0420.1000335

Hachul H, Bittencourt L + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4172/2167-0420.1000335

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Abstract

Purpose: To characterize the onset of natural menopause and to investigate the associated factors with the age of menarche and natural menopause in a population aged 29-59 yrs in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Methods: In total, 426 women underwent clinical evaluation and blood collection for biochemical analysis. Participants were classified as being in the premenopausal or natural menopausal stage. Results: The results showed that the mean age of menarche was 12.7 yrs and that the mean age of menopause was 47.5 yrs. The associated factors with women who began menopause before an average age of 47 yrs were age (OR: 0.85), luteinizing hormone (OR: 0.93) and follicle-stimulating hormone (OR: 1.03). Menopause of <47 yrs was negatively associated with age and luteinizing hormone. Follicle-stimulating hormone levels were associated with an increased risk of menopause before 47 yrs. Conclusions: The mean ages of menopause and menarche were characterized in this population. Folliclestimulating hormone level was the unique parameter which increased early, raised the risk to occurrence of early menopause. In this study age of menarche, social-demographic factors, ethnicity and anxiety index were not associated with the age of menopause onset.

Highlights

In healthy women, there are two important physical, hormonal and cultural events in the natural female reproductive cycle: menarche and menopause
The present study describes the average age of natural menopause in a sample of women from Sao Paulo, Brazil
It is important to identify when to begin medical care for the prevention and treatment of related symptoms in this new phase of life and to identify the associated factors with this event. This epidemiological study presents descriptive data that characterize the ages of menarche and menopause in the female population of the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Summary

Introduction

There are two important physical, hormonal and cultural events in the natural female reproductive cycle: menarche and menopause. Earlier menarche is associated with a more rapid onset of ovulatory cycles and a tendency to sustain higher levels of certain hormones of the luteal phase, increasing the risk of ovarian cancer [2]. Menopause is characterized by ovarian failure combined with amenorrhea for at least 12 months [3]. This complex biosocial and bio cultural period occurs spontaneously in a woman’s midlife and refers to the permanent cessation of menses resulting from the loss of ovarian follicular function [3]. The timing of natural menopause may serve as a marker for the process of reproductive aging, with an earlier age at menopause indicating premature aging [4]

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