Premature Menopause on the Rise, Particularly in India, Study Finds

Premature menopause is increasingly affecting women, particularly in India, with 15% of married women aged 30 to 49 who are already in the menopausal phase, according to a recent study published in Nature.com

Menopause typically happens between the ages of 45 and 55, but some women experience it earlier before the age 40, which is called premature menopause. This can be due to surgeries like hysterectomy or certain health conditions.

Premature menopause is a significant concern because it increases health risks, such as issues with the heart, bones and mental health.

In countries like India, others such as Southeast Asia, where life expectancy is rising, more women are facing these risks, making it a crucial health issue.

Research has examined the belief that women in developing countries often go through menopause earlier than those in more developed countries.

The age at which women experience menopause can vary depending on where they live, their education and socio-economic status.

However, more research is needed to understand these factors and how to address them, as India is lacking formal education on menopause, making it difficult for women to fully understand and manage the changes and risks associated with menopause.

Researchers of the study examined this area by exploring data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) between 2019 and 2021.

This survey, organized by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, collected information from over 700,000 women and men across the country.

The researchers focused on 180,743 women aged 30 to 39 who were not pregnant and had not recently given birth, to study premature menopause.

In India, it was found that 14.66% of women beginning in their 30s are already experiencing menopause, with higher rates in rural areas (15.96%) compared to urban areas (12.19%).

Premature menopause, occurring before the age of 40, is also more common in rural areas (4.73%) than in cities (2.55%).

Among Indian states, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Bihar have the highest levels of menopause in women aged 30 to 49. Particularly, Bihar has high rates of premature menopause in women aged 30 to 39, far exceeding the national average.

In this study, it explains that premature menopause is becoming more common in India, especially in rural areas. It also shows that women with less education and lower income are at higher risk.

By using data from a survey of this size, it highlights the need for more awareness and support for women facing these health challenges.

Overall, researchers found that socio-economic and biological factors significantly impact when women in India experience menopause, with rural and less-educated women being at higher risk for early menopause.