From the Research
Early menarche is associated with an increased risk of early menopause, particularly in nulliparous women, as evidenced by a study published in 2017 1. The relationship between early menarche and early menopause is complex and influenced by multiple factors, including genetics, lifestyle, environmental exposures, and overall reproductive health. Some key points to consider include:
- A study published in 2017 found that women with early menarche (≤11 years) were at higher risk of premature menopause (RRR 1.80,95% CI 1.53-2.12) and early menopause (1.31,1.19-1.44) compared to women with menarche at 12-13 years 1.
- Nulliparity was also associated with increased risk of premature menopause (2.26,1.84-2.77) and early menopause (1.32,1.09-1.59) in the same study 1.
- Women with early menarche and nulliparity were at over 5-fold increased risk of premature menopause (5.64,4.04-7.87) and 2-fold increased risk of early menopause (2.16,1.48-3.15) compared to women who had menarche at ≥12 years and two or more children 1.
- Other factors that may influence menopause timing include smoking, body mass index, pregnancy history, and use of hormonal contraceptives, as discussed in various studies 2, 3, 4.
- A more recent study published in 2018 found that menstrual cycle characteristics in adolescence and early adulthood, such as shorter and more regular cycles, were associated with an increased risk of early natural menopause 3. However, the most recent and highest quality study, published in 2017, provides the strongest evidence for the association between early menarche and early menopause 1.