Age at natural menopause in Koreans: secular trends and influences thereon. 2018

Chan Young Park, and Joong-Yeon Lim, and Hyun-Young Park
Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.

Age at natural menopause (ANM) has become an important health issue in older women. We explored secular trends in ANM in Korea during the past decade, and defined factors predicting ANM. A total of 12,761 naturally menopausal women were selected from the 2001 to 2014 data of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, stages II to VI. The participants were divided into four groups based on 5-year ANM categories: <45, 45 to 49, 50 to 54, and ≄55 years. To identify factors associated with ANM, the regression analysis was used. Both the mean (SE) and median (SE) ANM were 49.30 (0.07) years. The cumulative proportion of women experiencing menopause before the age of 40, 45, 50, and 55 years was 3.6%, 11.8%, 46.0%, and 90.3%, respectively. The mean (SE) ANM in women born in 1929 or earlier, and between 1930 to 1934, 1935 to 1939, 1940 to 1944, and 1945 to 1949, was 47.9 (0.3), 48.1 (0.2), 48.8 (0.2), 50.1 (0.2), and 50.5 (0.1) years, respectively (Pā€Š<ā€Š0.001). Residence in a rural area (odds ratio [OR] 1.82), low weight status (OR 1.61), a history of or current smoking, a low educational level, being without a partner, and participating in at least moderate physical activity (OR 1.47, 1.33, 1.32, and 1.26, respectively) were more likely to result in an early ANM. Women with prior childbirth were less likely to experience early menopause (OR 0.34). In contrast, late menopause was associated with obesity and being overweight (OR 1.63 and 1.27). We found that the mean ANM exhibited upward secular trends. Socioeconomic status and lifestyle factors were the principal independent factors affecting ANM.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008593 Menopause The last menstrual period. Permanent cessation of menses (MENSTRUATION) is usually defined after 6 to 12 months of AMENORRHEA in a woman over 45 years of age. In the United States, menopause generally occurs in women between 48 and 55 years of age. Change of Life, Female
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D005260 Female Females
D006304 Health Status The level of health of the individual, group, or population as subjectively assessed by the individual or by more objective measures. General Health,General Health Level,General Health Status,Level of Health,Overall Health,Overall Health Status,General Health Levels,Health Level,Health Level, General,Health Levels,Health Status, General,Health Status, Overall,Health, General,Health, Overall,Level, General Health,Levels, General Health,Status, General Health,Status, Health,Status, Overall Health
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000367 Age Factors Age as a constituent element or influence contributing to the production of a result. It may be applicable to the cause or the effect of a circumstance. It is used with human or animal concepts but should be differentiated from AGING, a physiological process, and TIME FACTORS which refers only to the passage of time. Age Reporting,Age Factor,Factor, Age,Factors, Age
D016387 Women's Health The concept covering the physical and mental conditions of women. Woman's Health,Womens Health,Health, Woman's,Health, Women's,Health, Womens
D017668 Age of Onset The age, developmental stage, or period of life at which a disease or the initial symptoms or manifestations of a disease appear in an individual. Age-at-Onset,Age at Onset,Onset Age
D056910 Republic of Korea The capital is Seoul. The country, established September 9, 1948, is located on the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. Its northern border is shared with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Korea, Republic of,South Korea

Related Publications

Chan Young Park, and Joong-Yeon Lim, and Hyun-Young Park
May 2019, Menopause (New York, N.Y.),
Chan Young Park, and Joong-Yeon Lim, and Hyun-Young Park
June 1997, Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology,
Chan Young Park, and Joong-Yeon Lim, and Hyun-Young Park
December 1969, Harefuah,
Chan Young Park, and Joong-Yeon Lim, and Hyun-Young Park
October 2004, Maturitas,
Chan Young Park, and Joong-Yeon Lim, and Hyun-Young Park
May 1998, Annals of epidemiology,
Chan Young Park, and Joong-Yeon Lim, and Hyun-Young Park
December 2004, Maturitas,
Chan Young Park, and Joong-Yeon Lim, and Hyun-Young Park
June 2023, Beijing da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Peking University. Health sciences,
Chan Young Park, and Joong-Yeon Lim, and Hyun-Young Park
July 2000, Journal of biosocial science,
Chan Young Park, and Joong-Yeon Lim, and Hyun-Young Park
June 2025, Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society,
Chan Young Park, and Joong-Yeon Lim, and Hyun-Young Park
October 1998, Lancet (London, England),
Copied contents to your clipboard!