Menopausal age and its influencing factors, Birjand, 2001

Menopause signals the cessation of fertility and accompanies changes in health status. To find the mean age and factors affecting menopause, a retrospective study was conducted on a community sample of women with cessation of menstruation for at least 12 months at the end of reproductive years (>40 years). A sample of 810 women was selected with cluster sampling. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and interview. The mean age of menopause was 47.19±5.31 years and prevalence of premature menopause was 13.8%. The mean age of menopause was higher in women with last pregnancy at an age more than 35 years, with higher age of first pregnancy, with history of using oral contraceptives and in women with type II diabetes mellitus, and with multiparity (P<0.05). There was an unexplained high prevalence of premature menopause, which needs more attention.