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Age of Menopause Getting Later
Nov. 14, 2003 -- If the trend continues, women may be looking at menopause at a later age then expected.
Research has shown that girls are developing earlier, but a new study now shows that women are hitting the age of menopause significantly later in life. The shifting trends of a woman's reproductive life is the subject of this new report that appears in the October issue of Menopause.
In fact, for every year later that a woman is born, researchers estimate that they will hit the age of menopause about one month later. In other words, compared with a woman born in 1930, a woman born 24 years later -- in 1954 -- would enter the age of menopause about two years later in life.
Swedish researchers led by Kerstin Rodstrom, MD, looked at five groups of women -- ranging from women born in 1908 to women born in 1930. Just over 1,000 women were included in the study. Researchers excluded women who had either entered menopause because they had their ovaries removed or who had ever taken menopausal hormone therapy or the pill. They wanted to be sure to look at only women who had entered menopause "naturally."
Girls Starting Periods Earlier
Girls born in 1908, on average, started their period around the age of 14 years and 2 months. However, over the following years the average age consistently fell. Girls born in 1930 started their period around the age of 13 years, 7 months -- a seven-month drop in just 22 years.
Women Entering Age of Menopause Later
The average age of menopause, for the whole group, was 49.9 years, but was influenced by factors such as year of birth and smoking status. Women born in earlier years started menopause earlier, and women born in later years started menopause later. Meanwhile women who smoked, regardless of other factors, entered menopause earlier than women who did not smoke.
The researchers defined the menopause as having no period for at least 12 months. When women are nearing the transition to menopause, they often have irregular periods, missing a month or two here and there. The researchers wanted to be sure they were evaluating only women who had definitely become menopausal.
On average, for women who smoked, the age of menopause for women born in 1908 was 48 years and 4 months and 50 years for women born in 1930. For nonsmoking women the average age of menopause was 49 years for women born in 1908 and 51 years and 5 months for women born in 1930.
Past research has shown that the age of menopause is usually lower in women who smoke. This is likely due to the fact that nicotine is damaging to the ovaries and thus the ovaries stop producing estrogen at an earlier age.
Why the Change?
As seen in earlier studies, the researchers found that smoking was the most important factor influencing the age of menopause.
However, age in and of itself was a significant factor in age of menopause.
Researchers suggest that the increase in age of menopause may be caused by improved health and nutrition in women over the years. Better health and nutrition has previously been suggested as the reason behind girls starting their periods earlier as well.
SOURCE: Rodstrom, K. Menopause, October 2003; vol. 10: pp. 538-543, 2003.
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VIVELLE-DOT (estradiol transdermal system) IS AVAILABLE BY PRESCRPTION ONLY.
INDICATION
Vivelle-Dot is used after menopause to: reduce moderate to severe hot flashes; treat moderate to severe dryness, itching and burning in or around the vagina; help reduce your chances of getting osteoporosis (thin weak bones); and treat certain conditions in which a young woman's ovaries do not produce enough estrogens naturally. Vivelle-Dot 0.025 mg/day is only used to prevent osteoporosis from menopause. If you use Vivelle-Dot only to treat your dryness, itching, and burning in and around your vagina or if you use Vivelle-Dot only to prevent osteoporosis from menopause, talk with your healthcare professional about whether a different treatment or medicine without estrogens might be better for you.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Estrogens increase the chances of getting cancer of the uterus (womb). Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away while you are taking estrogens. Vaginal bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the uterus (womb).
Do not use estrogens with or without progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes. Using estrogens with or without progestins may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and blood clots. Using estrogens with progestins may increase your risk of dementia (decline in memory and thinking skills).
Vivelle-Dot should not be used if you have unusual vaginal bleeding; currently have or have had certain cancers, including cancer of the breast or uterus; had a stroke or heart attack in the recent past (for example, in the past year); currently have or have had blood clots; currently have or have had liver problems; or think you may be, or know that you are, pregnant.
The most common side effects that may occur with Vivelle-Dot are headache, breast tenderness, and back pain.
You and your healthcare professional should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with Vivelle-Dot.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Full Prescribing Information for Vivelle-Dot.
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