Alcohol consumption and age of maternal menopause are associated with menopause onset.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether a number of nutritional and familial factors were associated with menopausal development.


METHODS
A prospective postal survey amongst a random sample of 1227 women aged 47 to 51 who were premenopausal in a cross-sectional survey 2 years previously. Women were classed into three groups; premenopause (regular menstruation); irregular menstruation; postmenopausal (absence of menstrual cycle for at least 6 months). Proportional odds regression was used to identify those factors which were independently predictive of subsequent menopausal development.


RESULTS
There was an 80% (n = 983) survey response rate. After exclusion of current HRT users (n = 178); 150 (19%) women were postmenopausal, 277 (34%) had erratic menstruation and 378 (47%) were premenopause. There were significant univariate associations between menopausal status and age (P < 0.001), age of maternal menopause (P = 0.006), alcohol consumption (P = 0.005) and social class (P = 0.03). Maternal age and alcohol consumption were significantly correlated with estradiol levels (r = 0.45, P = 0.02, and r = 0.61, P = 0.02 for maternal age and alcohol consumption, respectively). In proportional odds regression analyses, age, maternal menopausal age, alcohol consumption and smoking were independently associated with menopausal status.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that, (1) there is a strong familial association in menopausal age, and (2) moderate consumption of alcohol is associated with delayed menopausal development.
Torgerson
D J
DJ
National Primary Care Research and Development Centre, University of Yark, Heslington, UK.
Thomas
R E
RE
Campbell
M K
MK
Reid
D M
DM
D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood*; D002979:Climacteric / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood
D004967:Estrogens