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Climacteric in women: an evolutionary defect?

Z Dickmann

    Medical Hypotheses
    |March 1, 1985
    PubMed
    Summary

    The female climacteric, or menopause, is not an evolutionary defect. Extended lifespans due to human innovation mean menopause is a human-driven phenomenon, not a natural one.

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    Area of Science:

    • Evolutionary biology
    • Human physiology
    • Gerontology

    Background:

    • The female climacteric (menopause) presents two main consequences: sterility and hormonal deficiency.
    • Sterility is viewed as a protective mechanism against pregnancy-related risks in older women.
    • Hormonal deficiency, however, causes detrimental physiological changes.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To determine if the negative aspects of the female climacteric are evolutionary defects.
    • To analyze the role of extended human lifespan in the manifestation of climacteric symptoms.

    Main Methods:

    • Theoretical analysis of evolutionary biology and human physiology.
    • Examination of the impact of human lifespan extension on natural life cycles.

    Main Results:

    • Human innovations have significantly extended lifespan beyond natural limits.
    • The average lifespan now exceeds the age at which menopause naturally occurs.
    • Menopause, in its current context, is largely a consequence of increased longevity, not natural selection.

    Conclusions:

    • The negative features of the female climacteric should not be considered evolutionary defects.
    • Menopause is a phenomenon influenced by human societal and technological advancements, rather than a natural evolutionary endpoint.
    • Understanding menopause requires considering the artificial extension of the human lifespan.

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