Reliability of reported age at menopause

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Reproductive Health
• Biostatistics

Background:

• Age at menopause is a key epidemiological factor.
• Reliability of self-reported age at menopause in the U.S. population is not well-established.
• Understanding reporting reliability is crucial for accurate health research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the reliability of reported age at menopause in U.S. women.
• To investigate factors influencing reporting accuracy, including menopause type, time since menopause, age, and education.
• To evaluate hypotheses regarding reporting consistency over time.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from 2,545 women in the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and Followup Study (1971-1984).
• Employed linear regression models to compare age at menopause reported at initial and follow-up interviews.
• Analyzed consistency of reporting based on menopause type (natural vs. hysterectomy-induced) and time elapsed since menopause.

Main Results:

• Women with hysterectomy-induced menopause reported age at menopause more reliably (59% within one year) compared to those with natural menopause (44%).
• Reporting reliability did not significantly decline with increasing age or higher educational attainment.
• Only hysterectomy status and time elapsed since menopause were significantly associated with discrepancies in reported age at menopause.

Conclusions:

• Caution is advised when utilizing self-reported age at menopause in epidemiological studies.
• Hysterectomy status and time since menopause are critical factors affecting reporting accuracy.
• Further research may enhance understanding of this significant life event through improved data reliability.