Abstract

Accomplishments: The analysis included women ages 35-49 from the National Health and Examination Survey III. Menopausal status was based on months since last period (less than 2, 2 - 12, and more than 12 for pre-, peri-, and post-menopause, respectively). Factors related to menstrually-defined menopausal status were identified with multinomial logistic modeling. Factors related to elevated FSH were identified with binomial logistic regression with FSH > 20 IU/L as the dependent variable. Women with surgical menopause were excluded from the menstrual-cycle based menopausal status analysis. Both modeling strategies adjusted for age, smoking, and unilateral oophorectomy. Higher body mass index ( >= 30 kg/m2 compared with < 25.0 kg/m2) was protective for elevated FSH (odds ratio, OR, 0.6) but not for the menstrual measure of menopause (OR 1.2). Exercise (>= 3 times per week compared with none) was associated with a lower likelihood of being both menstrually and hormonally post-menopausal (ORs 0.3 and 0.6, respectively). Alcohol use also tended to be protective of menstrually-based menopause and increased FSH, but not significantly so. Other factors examined include ethnicity, education, age at menarche, live births, and oral contraceptive use.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Type
Intramural Research (Z01)
Project #
1Z01ES049025-04
Application #
6432330
Study Section
Epidemiology and Biometry Training Committee (EB)
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2000
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
U.S. National Inst of Environ Hlth Scis
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
State
Country
United States
Zip Code

  Publications

Cooper, G S; Baird, D D; Darden, F R (2001) Measures of menopausal status in relation to demographic, reproductive, and behavioral characteristics in a population-based study of women aged 35-49 years. Am J Epidemiol 153:1159-65
Cooper, G S; Baird, D D; Weinberg, C R et al. (2000) Age at menopause and childbearing patterns in relation to mortality. Am J Epidemiol 151:620-3
Cooper, G S; Longnecker, M P; Sandler, D P et al. (2000) Risk of ovarian cancer in relation to use of phenolphthalein-containing laxatives. Br J Cancer 83:404-6
Cooper, G S; Thorp Jr, J M (1999) FSH levels in relation to hysterectomy and to unilateral oophorectomy. Obstet Gynecol 94:969-72
Cooper, G S; Sandler, D P; Bohlig, M (1999) Active and passive smoking and the occurrence of natural menopause. Epidemiology 10:771-3