Predicting age at onset of menopause: testing the "adaptive onset" hypothesis.

This study tests the "adaptive onset" hypothesis (AOH) proposed by Kuhle and explores the potential adaptive origins of menopause (Kuhle (2007) [3]). The AOH posits that both menopause and the timing of its onset are adaptive, and that age at onset may be mediated according to the likelihood of successful continued reproduction. Twelve factors were hypothesized to predict whether continued reproduction would be successful. Eight factors were tested using data extracted from the NLS Mature Women cohort. Statistical analyses reveal no support for predictions of the AOH; in fact, a majority of analyses suggest trends opposite from those predicted.