Women who started their periods at age 11 or younger face a significantly higher risk of premature menopause, according to a major study published in Human Reproduction. This finding offers important insights for those who experienced early menstruation, contrasting with the challenges of delayed periods.
Drawing on data from 51,450 women across nine studies in the UK, Australia, Japan, and Scandinavian countries, researchers found compelling evidence. Women with their first period at age 11 or earlier have an 80% higher risk of premature menopause (before age 40) compared to those starting around ages 12-13. For early menopause (ages 40-44), the risk increases by more than 30%.
Additionally, never having been pregnant raises the risk of early menopause by 30%. Women combining early first periods and no pregnancies face the steepest odds: a fivefold increase for premature menopause and double for early menopause. These results underscore key reproductive factors influencing long-term women's health.
