Genetics, poor lifestyle cause premature menopause in more women in Bengaluru: Doctors
Reason: A cocktail of modern-day stressors.
Dr Rubina Shanawaz Z, senior consultant in uro-gynaecology and gynae-oncology at Fortis Hospital, told TOI, "Menopausal age has been gradually shifting over the decades, and it's influenced by a variety of factors. Genetics plays a significant role. If your mother or sister experienced menopause at 50, you're likely to follow a similar timeline. But it's not just heredity, it depends on your level of physical activity, lifestyle choices, medications, hormone use, etc.
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She explained, "Women now have low egg reserves and experience hormonal imbalances much sooner. So while the average lifespan has increased to 75 or 80, the reproductive window is shortening. In earlier generations, probably 1 in 10 women would report early menopause or its symptoms. Today, that number is closer to 6 out of 10."
Another major factor is early menarche when girls begin menstruating earlier than the historical average of 12 years.
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Doctors now report cases of girls starting their periods as early as 10. "Every menstrual cycle depletes the egg reserve. Since a woman is born with a fixed number of eggs, this can result in menopause occurring earlier than expected," said Dr Sapna Raina, senior consultant, obstetrics and gynaecology at Narayana Health City.
Dr Raina said south Asian women, including those in India, typically experience menopause earlier than those in western countries.
Here, menopause is considered normal if it occurs after the age of 45. When it happens between 40 and 45, it is termed early menopause. Before 40, it is classified as premature menopause. "While genetics plays a role, if your mother or grandmother had early menopause, you might too. Other factors like cancer treatments, pelvic surgeries and lifestyle habits like smoking can also cause the ovaries to stop functioning earlier," she said.
Early menopause leaves the body without the protective benefits of oestrogen for a longer period. Oestrogen plays a key role in maintaining bone density and cardiovascular health. Dr Priya SP Patil, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Altius Hospital, said: "There is an increased risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, memory issues, mood disorders, anxiety and depression post menopause."
She said some women are being diagnosed with POI as early as 30.
"It means the ovaries have exhausted their egg reserves prematurely, leading to infertility and an end to natural menstruation." Fertility specialists are also seeing more women in their early 30s with hormone and egg reserve levels typical of those in their 40s. "Ideally, menopause should occur between the ages of 45 and 55," said Dr Varsha Samson Roy, consultant and head of embryology at Birla Fertility & IVF.
"But today, we are seeing AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone) levels dropping at a much younger age, suggesting a shorter menstrual cycle in their life, which can also lead to early menopause."
What can lead to it
Genetics
Early menarche
Exposure to endocrine disruptors
Lifestyle stressors
Nutritional deficiencies
Habits like smoking and alcohol
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