Early menstruation linked to increased menopause symptoms

Date:
July 22, 2020
Source:
University of Queensland
Summary:
Early menstruation increases the likelihood of hot flushes and
nights sweats decades later at menopause, according to a new study.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Early menstruation increases the likelihood of hot flushes and nights
sweats decades later at menopause, according to a University of Queensland study.


========================================================================== School of Public Health researchers analysed data from more than 18,000
middle aged women across the UK, USA and Australia, as part of the
Life course Approach to reproductive health and Chronic disease Events (InterLACE) international collaboration.

UQ's Dr Hsin-Fang Chung said the study showed women who started
menstruating aged 11 or younger had a 50 per cent higher risk of
experiencing frequent hot flushes and night sweats -- known as vasomotor symptoms -- at menopause.

The group was compared with women who had their first period at 14
or older.

"The risk of the women who menstruated early experiencing both symptoms
was greater than having either hot flushes or night sweats alone,"
Dr Chung said.

She said early menstruation previously had been linked to adverse health conditions later in life, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

InterLACE project leader Professor Gita Mishra said obesity played a significant role in the findings.

"Women who experienced early menstruation and were overweight or obese in midlife had a two times greater risk of frequent hot flushes and night
sweats, compared with women who experienced their first period aged 14
years or older, and had normal weight," she said.

"These findings encourage women with early menstruation to engage in
health promotion programs, especially weight management in adulthood," Professor Mishra said.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Queensland. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. H‐F Chung, D Zhu, AJ Dobson, D Kuh, EB Gold, SL Crawford,
NE Avis,
ES Mitchell, NF Woods, DJ Anderson, GD Mishra. Age at menarche
and risk of vasomotor menopausal symptoms: a pooled analysis
of six studies. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics &
Gynaecology, 2020; DOI: 10.1111/ 1471-0528.16393 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200722083802.htm

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