A new study published in Menopause, the journal of The Menopause Society, found that women with a history of primary infertility underwent natural menopause one year earlier than those without such a history. The study also reported an increased risk of early menopause among women with unexplained infertility or endometriosis but found no association between infertility and premature menopause.
The research, titled "Infertility and age of menopause in a longitudinal cohort of women with primary infertility," analyzed data from nearly 700 participants, about half of whom had been diagnosed with primary infertility. Primary infertility refers to the inability to achieve a first pregnancy after at least 12 months of unprotected intercourse.
Early menopause is defined as menopause occurring before age 45, while premature menopause occurs before age 40. The study indicated that although women with primary infertility faced a higher likelihood of early menopause, they did not show an elevated risk of premature menopause.
Premature and early menopause are associated with long-term health consequences, including cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and neurocognitive disorders. Infertility itself has also been linked to higher rates of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Globally, infertility affects approximately one in six people.
Known risk factors for early or premature menopause include tobacco use, low body mass index, nulliparity (never having given birth), and early onset of menstruation. Conversely, increased parity (having multiple children) and prior use of oral contraceptives have been associated with later menopause.
Dr. Stephanie Faubion, Medical Director of The Menopause Society, said, "Given that early menopause is linked to adverse long-term health consequences, these women may benefit from counseling that they are at risk of early menopause. This will allow them to monitor for early menopause and to seek treatment with hormone therapy, if indicated."
Previous studies on the relationship between infertility and early or premature menopause produced inconsistent findings and did not differentiate between types of infertility. This study aimed to address that gap by examining specific infertility diagnoses within a longitudinal cohort.