Early menarche and early menopause: Decoding the correlation
Discover how your age at your first period can shape your menopause journey and learn how if your periods started early, your menopause may come early too. We’ll unveil the genetic factors, family history, and lifestyle influences that play a pivotal role. Explore the surprising connections and take control of your future.
If you had your first period at eleven or earlier, there’s more chance your menopause will come early too
A large study examined the records of more than 51,000 women in Europe, Australia and Japan. Those who had their first period (menarche) at age 11 or earlier had an 80% higher chance of premature menopause (before age 40) and a 31% higher chance of early menopause (before 45).
Not having children was a more decisive factor. Women who had their first period at 11 or earlier and had no children were more than twice as likely to have early menopause and more than five times more likely to have premature menopause.
What does that mean in practice?
If we say that one in 50 women will have premature menopause, then having your first period at 11 or earlier increases your risk of premature menopause to 1 in 28.
We’re not clear how many women experience premature menopause. The 1 in 100 statistic you see everywhere is probably wrong. That widely reported number comes from a review of data from 1928 to 1932! A recent study of Swedish National Registry data showed that POI occurred in 1.8% (1 in 56) of Swedish women. Another large review of global data found POI occurring in 3.7% – that’s one woman in 27. Between one in 20 and one in eight women experiences menopause before age 45.
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Why does the age when you have your first period affect your age at menopause?
All sorts of factors affect your age at menarche and menopause, but genetics play a critical role and go a long way to explaining why if your periods started early, your menopause may come early too.
Your genes are thought to contribute between 60 and 80% of the influences on your age at menarche. Some genes can affect when you have your first period, and some when you experience menopause. Some genes affect both (as in the diagram). These genes can make you more likely to start your periods early AND have earlier menopause.
Individual genes seem to have a tiny effect, but the impact of many genes working together can make a difference. In a study of almost 70,000 women, 123 gene variants associated with starting your periods early also predicted earlier menopause.
Just ask your mother
Because genetics plays such a significant role, the age your mother experiences menopause is the best predictor of when you will. Other female relatives count too. Suppose your mother, sister, aunt or grandmother experienced menopause before age 46. In that case, you’re six times more likely to have early menopause yourself. If more than one relative had early menopause, your risk is twelve times higher.
If you want a deep dive into the details, there’s a detailed review of genetic factors that influence age at menopause here.
It’s not all about genetics
Many non-genetic factors also play a role in age at menarche, though studies mostly show inconsistent results. If your mother smoked while pregnant, your risk of early menarche and early menopause are both increased. There’s a detailed review of non-genetic factors affecting age at menarche here.
In terms of menopause, there is much clearer information about non-genetic factors that can lead to earlier menopause. These include:
- Being a smoker
- Having a menstrual cycle of less than 26 days
- Eating lots of refined rice and pasta
- Being single
- Poverty in childhood
- Eating a vegetarian diet
- Not finishing high school
- Having an annual income < $20k
- Being unemployed
- Family history of early menopause
- Mother smoking during pregnancy
- Having a low dietary intake of vitamin D
- Having elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease
Conversely, later menopause is associated with:
- Eating lots of oily fish
- Having two or more children
- Eating lots of peas and beans
- Being overweight
- Having a college degree
How much difference do these factors make?
At the extremes, being a smoker, eating lots of refined rice and pasta and having a cycle of less than 26 days are each associated with having menopause one and a half years earlier. Eating lots of oily fish can delay menopause by three and a half years.
What can you do?
In the end, there’s little benefit in worrying about things you have no control over, like your genes, and just because you started your periods early doesn’t mean your menopause will certainly come early. You can, however, influence when your menopause starts by making changes to your diet and keeping risk factors for cardiovascular disease under control. That’ll bring many more benefits than just when you experience menopause
What’s your experience?
- Did you start your periods early and then go on to have early menopause?
- Are you worried about the prospect of early menopause?
Post a comment below or send us a message.
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