[Smoking and earlier menopause].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of smoking on the onset age of menopause.


METHODS
From January of 1998 to January of 2001, 775 postmenopausal women, with ages ranging from 40 to 65 years, were evaluated by means of a questionnaire. They were asked about their birth date; last menstrual bleeding, number of children, smoking habits, use of hormone medication, number of cigarettes per day, and gynecological surgeries. The menopausal status was characterized by blood determinations of FSH (> 30 UI) and estradiol (< 13 pg/mL). Women with surgical menopause, premature menopause and users of hormone replacement therapy were excluded.


RESULTS
Of the 775 women included 646 (83%) were not-smokers and 129 (17%) smokers. For the non-smoking group mean age at menopause was 48.6 (+/- 4.1) years and for smokers 47.8 (+/-3.9). Median ages at menopause were 49.2 (+/-3.7) and p=0.464; 47.6 (+/-4.3) and p=0.171); and 46.9 (+/-3.6) and p=0.016 years for women who smoked 1-5, 6-10 and 11 or more cigarettes per day, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Onset of menopause was anticipated by eight months for women who smoke. This finding suggests a greater susceptibility to earlier menopause in accordance with the number of cigarettes smoked per day.
Aldrighi
José Mendes
JM
Ambulatório de Saúde da Mulher Climatérica (ASMUC) do Departamento Materno-Infantil da Faculdade de Saúde Pública da Universidade de São Paolo (FSP-USP), São Paolo, SP.
Alecrin
Israel Nunes
IN
de Oliveira
Paulo Rogério
PR
Shinomata
Henrique O
HO
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires