An overview of age of onset of menopause in northern India.

OBJECTIVES

This study was conducted to establish the age at onset of natural menopause (ANM) in northern Indian women and also to determine any socio-demographic, reproductive or physical factors that may affect it.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three hundred and fifty women who were accompanying other patients to the outpatient clinic of obstetrics and gynaecology. They came from different parts of northern India since AIIMS is a tertiary health referral centre. All women who had permanent cessation of menstruation for more than 1 year naturally were interviewed (n=201). A semi-structured questionnaire was designed to study the ANM and various demographic, reproductive, and socio-economic factors which affect it. Data were analyzed using logistic regression analysis to see if there was any association between age at natural menopause and various socio-demographic factors.

RESULTS

The median ANM of the study sample was 48 years with the mean age of 46.7 years. There was no association between the various socio-demographic and reproductive factors and age at onset of menopause.

CONCLUSION

The age at onset of menopause in northern India is 48 years which is about 3 years earlier than the west. Socio-demographic and reproductive factors did not affect the age at onset of menopause in our study.