Premature menopause, a condition where women experience menopause before the age of 40, has become a growing concern among Indian women, according to recent studies.
Menopause marks the natural cessation of menstruation and is accompanied by various physical and psychological changes. Premature menopause, however, poses significant health risks, including increased mortality and morbidity rates.
Recent research has highlighted a sharp increase in premature menopause rates across Southeast Asia, with women in developing countries experiencing this transition several years earlier than their counterparts in developed nations.
To gauge the prevalence and factors influencing premature menopause in India, researchers analyzed data from the latest Indian Demography Health Survey (2019-2021). The study encompassed 180,743 women aged 30 to 39 across 29 states and seven union territories.
Key Findings:
Approximately 15% of Indian women undergo menopause, with higher rates observed in rural areas compared to urban centers.
Premature menopause affects 5% of women in rural regions and 3% in urban areas.
Bihar emerged as a hotspot, exhibiting four times and two times higher rates of premature menopause among women aged 30-34 and 35-39, respectively, compared to the national average.
Factors Influencing Premature Menopause:
The study identified several socio-demographic factors contributing to premature menopause:
Women with the lowest educational backgrounds faced a sevenfold higher risk compared to those with the highest education levels.
Nutritional and biological factors such as older age, higher parity (number of children), younger age at first and last childbirth, and absence of contraceptive use were also associated with increased risk.
Women with a history of hysterectomy or female sterilization showed significantly elevated risks, along with those lacking health insurance coverage.
Decomposition Analysis:
A detailed analysis pinpointed hysterectomy as a primary factor contributing to the disparity in premature menopause rates based on educational backgrounds. It accounted for about 84% of the observed gap between women with the lowest and highest educational achievements.
Implications:
The study underscores the significant public health implications of premature menopause among Indian women, particularly in rural areas and among those with limited educational opportunities.
The findings suggest a critical need for targeted health interventions and education programs to mitigate risks associated with premature menopause.
Future research should focus on understanding the socio-cultural determinants influencing women’s choices regarding hysterectomy and alternative treatments.
In conclusion, addressing the complex interplay of socio-economic factors and healthcare access is essential to improving reproductive health outcomes for Indian women facing premature menopause.
