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Defining Menopause: What Is Early, What Is Late?

  • Chapter
Primary Ovarian Insufficiency

Abstract

The normative range of age for menopause is 45–54 years. Menopause occurring before age 45 is considered “early,” whereas menopause prior to age 40 is designated as “premature.” The prevalence of these two entities is about 5 % and 1–2 %, respectively, reflecting the relative rarity of cessation of menses prior to age 40. Environmental (cigarette smoking and other exposures), lifestyle (poverty and socioeconomic status), immunological (autoimmunity), and a variety of genetic factors are all known to influence the timing of menopause. Early and premature menopauses are related to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, part of which is attributable to early interruption of estrogen production. This chapter reviews these aspects of POF/POI and identifies the areas needed for further research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, LAC+USC Medical Center, 1200 N. State St., IPT C3F107, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA

    Sarah Eckhardt MD

  2. Medicine-Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 2525 West End Avenue, Suite 600, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA

    Melissa Wellons MD

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Correspondence to Sarah Eckhardt MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA

    Nanette F. Santoro

  2. Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

    Amber R. Cooper

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Eckhardt, S., Wellons, M. (2016). Defining Menopause: What Is Early, What Is Late?. In: Santoro, N., Cooper, A. (eds) Primary Ovarian Insufficiency. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22491-6_1

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