[Menopause in Africa]

Menopause occurs earlier in African women than European or American women. Multiple parity in a short period of time is the main reason. The myths and beliefs about this stage of life of the African woman are largely unknown. Symptoms do not vary greatly from those observed elsewhere, but social, economic and nutritional factors may influence the biological pattern. For some authors, the incidence of breast cancer does not decline at this age as it does in western countries. For other authors, 50% of breast cancers occur during the post-menopause period, revealing an aggressive form of the disease. Exceptional uterine cancers have also been observed. Osteoporosis is apparently milder in African women. This observation should be examined in more detail.