Secular trend in the menopausal age in Finland 1997–2007 and correlation with socioeconomic, reproductive and lifestyle factors

Background and aimsOnly few studies have studied secular trend of menopausal age during last decade. The aim of our study is to analyze secular trend of menopausal age and to evaluate the role of socioeconomic, reproductive and lifestyle factors.Material and methodsNational FINRISK Study sample from years 1997 and 2007 was utilized. The sample size for 1997 was 4193 and during 2007 was 4253 women. Covariance analysis included menopausal age as dependent variable and covariates (age, study year, education, occupation, parity, age at first birth, smoking, use of alcohol, physical activity, body mass index, waist circumference and waist–hip ratio) as independent variables.ResultsMedian of menopausal age was 50 years in 1997 and 51 years in 2007. Differences in menopausal age by covariate were largest in smoking, education and occupation. Difference in mean menopausal age between smokers and non-smokers was larger in 2007 than in 1997 (p < 0.001). Lowest educated women had lower average menopausal age during 2007 than higher educated women (p < 0.001), but not in 1997. When including sociodemographic, reproductive and lifestyle factors in a model, smoking was significantly related to earlier and physical activity to later menopausal age. Study year was not significant in any model.ConclusionEducation, smoking and physical activity have an important role in menopausal age determination when comparing 10-year differences in menopausal age.