The severity of menopause symptoms depends on the beginning of menstruation at an early age. As per the Life-course Approach to reproductive health and Chronic disease Events (InterLACE) international collaboration study, menstruation starting as early as 11 years of age increases the likelihood of increased hot flashes and night sweats during menopause.
It was also found that menarche (the first occurrence of menstruation) at the age of 14 years or later and women with normal weight were less likely to develop any severe symptoms during menopause.
But these symptoms can be avoided if your body mass index (BMI) is controlled. As BMI plays an important role in modifying this risk.
“Women who experienced early menstruation and were overweight or obese in midlife had a two times greater risk of frequent hot flushes and night sweats, compared with women who experienced their first period aged 14 years or older, and had normal weight,”
Gita Mishra, Ph.D., professor at the University of Queensland and InterLACE project leader, in a statement.
As per other previous studies, it was found that menstruation was linked to other adverse health conditions in the later stages of life, like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Professor Mishra further added, “These findings encourage women with early menstruation to engage in health promotion programs, especially weight management in adulthood,”.
“The risk of the women who menstruated early experiencing both symptoms was greater than having either hot flushes or night sweats alone.”
Dr Hsin-Fang Chung, Research Fellow, School of Public Health
Women with menarche at an early age have a 50 percent higher chance of experiencing increased symptoms of menopause. Women who started menstruating at an age of 11 or before need to maintain normal body weight during their midlife. This will help reduce the chances of the severity of menopause symptoms.
Dr. Hsin-Fang Chung said the study showed women who started menstruating aged 11 or younger had a 50 percent higher risk of experiencing increased frequency of hot flushes and night sweats at menopause.
