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Age at menopause in Puebla, Mexico
Lynnette Leidy Sievert1, Susan I Hautaniemi
1Department of Anthropololgy, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
Human Biology
|August 29, 2003
Summary
Comparing menopause age across populations is challenging due to varied methods. This study in Puebla, Mexico, found that methodological choices significantly impact estimated age at menopause, affecting comparisons.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive health
- Demographic studies
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Comparing age at menopause across diverse populations is hindered by inconsistent research methodologies.
- Understanding variations in menopause timing is crucial for reproductive health research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate age at menopause in Puebla, Mexico, using different statistical methodologies on the same dataset.
- To highlight the impact of methodological choices on menopause age estimations and cross-study comparisons.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of data from 755 women aged 28-70 in Puebla, Mexico.
- Application of probit analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to estimate median age at menopause.
- Comparison of results with data from Mexico City and León, Guanajuato.
Main Results:
- Mean recalled age at natural menopause in Puebla was 46.7 years, similar to Mexico City.
- Median age at menopause varied significantly based on methodology: 49.6 years (probit) and 50.0 years (Kaplan-Meier).
- Factors like smoking, low education, and nulliparity were associated with an earlier age at menopause in Puebla.
Conclusions:
- Methodological choices profoundly influence the estimation of age at menopause, complicating cross-population comparisons.
- Age at menopause in Puebla, depending on the method, ranged from similar to urban Mexican populations to close to that of the United States.
- Identifying factors associated with menopause timing provides further insights into variations in this biological process.