Age at natural menopause in Beirut, Lebanon: the role of reproductive and lifestyle factors.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the median age of natural menopause and factors associated with the timing of menopause in Beirut, Lebanon. RESEARCH DESGIN: A population-based sample of 298 women were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire.


METHODS
Logit analysis and logistic regression were used to estimate the median age and identify correlates of menopausal status.


RESULTS
The median age of natural menopause in Beirut, Lebanon is estimated to be 49.3 years. Not being currently married (odds ratio (OR)=4.19, 95% CI: 1.53, 11.51) and smoking (OR = 1.02 for each year of smoking, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.05) are significantly associated with an earlier age at menopause. Women with menstrual bleeding longer than 5 days have later ages at menopause (OR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.26, 0.97). Age at menarche, parity, education and socio-economic status are not statistically associated with the age at menopause.


CONCLUSIONS
The age at natural menopause in Lebanon is comparable to median ages reported for women in industrialized countries (49.3-51.4). Our results emphasize the role of smoking in determining an earlier age at menopause and indicate that reproductive characteristics affect the timing of menopause.
Reynolds
R F
RF
Department of Population and International Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. rreynold@hsph.harvard.edu
Obermeyer
C M
CM
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D017533:Marital Status; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012098:Reproduction; D012907:Smoking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires