Time-related trends of age at menopause and reproductive period of women in a Chuvashian rural population

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine in an observational, cross-sectional, community-based study the secular trend of age at menopause among women in a rural Chuvashian population and to identify factors associated with age at menopause. DESIGN: The sample included 316 postmenopausal women born between 1920 and 1950 with mean age at menopause of 48.47 ± 4.63 (34-58) years. Statistical analyses included simple and multiple linear regression and "whiskers" plots. RESULTS: Significant association was found between year of birth and age at menopause (β = 0.194, P < 0.001) and reproduction period (β = 0.193, P < 0.001). Mean values of age at menopause increased from 47.0 years (born during 1920-1925) to maximal values of 49.7 years (born during 1940-1945) and 49.3 years (born during 1945-1950). Mean values of their reproductive period increased from 30.7 (born during 1920-1925) to maximal values of 34.1 (born during 1940-1945) and to 33.7 (born during 1945-1950). Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that year of birth was the only statistically significant (β = 0.19, P < 0.01) predictor of age at menopause. Age at menarche can also be a possible predictor of age at menopause (β = -0.12, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The study confirmed certain secular trends of age at menopause and reproductive periods in Chuvashian women. The authors also observed a negative association between age at menarche and age at menopause. The number of children and medical abortions as well as body mass index showed no association with age at menopause.