The demography of menopause

Area of Science:

• Demography
• Epidemiology
• Women's Health

Background:

• Menopause involves significant hormonal and social changes for women.
• Health risks and needs evolve during and after menopause.
• The global population of menopausal and post-menopausal women is substantial and growing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the demographic characteristics of menopausal and post-menopausal women globally.
• To analyze the implications of menopause for mortality risks.
• To understand the shift in health protection associated with menopause.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing age 50 as a proxy for menopause.
• Estimating the global population of post-menopausal women in 1990.
• Projecting the future population of menopausal and post-menopausal women by 2030.
• Analyzing female-to-male mortality risk ratios across different age groups and causes of death.

Main Results:

• Approximately 25 million women enter menopause annually.
• In 1990, there were 467 million post-menopausal women globally (average age 60).
• By 2030, this population is projected to reach 1.2 billion, with 47 million new entrants yearly.
• Mortality risk ratios decrease around menopause, indicating a loss of reproductive period protection.
• Cardiovascular disease mortality risk decreases, while cancer mortality risk (breast, endometrium) increases post-menopause.

Conclusions:

• The female reproductive period offers broad health protection, particularly against cardiovascular disease.
• This protection wanes after menopause, leading to increased mortality risks.
• Menopause necessitates a re-evaluation of health strategies for aging women due to shifting risk profiles.