Study Finds One in 13 Bangladeshi Women Faces Premature Menopause Linked to Socioeconomic Inequality
Photo Collected
A significant number of women in Bangladesh are experiencing menopause well before the conventional age, according to a recent study conducted by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b). The findings, published in the BMJ Medical Health journal, reveal that approximately one in every 13 women in the country reaches menopause before the age of 45.
Menopause is typically a natural physiological transition occurring between ages 45 and 55. When menstruation ceases permanently before 45, it is classified as early menopause, while the cessation of cycles before age 40 is termed premature menopause. These occurrences cause an early loss of the protective benefits of the hormone estrogen, significantly elevating a woman’s long-term risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, dementia, and depression.
বিজ্ঞাপন
The research analyzed data from over 716,000 women aged 30 to 49 across 44 low- and middle-income countries. Across these nations, the average rate of early menopause stands at one in 14, or 7.1 percent. Bangladesh’s rate of 7.5 percent places it slightly above this global average, while neighboring Nepal and India report figures of 7.9 percent and 8 percent, respectively.
Social and economic disparities emerged as primary drivers of these trends. The study highlights that rural women are 17 percent more likely to experience early menopause compared to their urban counterparts, even after controlling for factors such as income and occupation. Education serves as a critical protective measure: women with secondary education face a 28 percent lower risk, while those with higher education see their risk reduced by 58 percent compared to women with no formal schooling. Furthermore, delayed marriage and childbirth—specifically occurring at age 18 or older—are associated with a lower incidence of early menopause compared to those who married or gave birth at younger ages.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Lead researcher Raisa Binte Islam of the icddr,b noted that the findings suggest early menopause is not merely a biological inevitability but is heavily influenced by social determinants. According to the study, consistent patterns of vulnerability exist among women with lower education levels and those residing in rural settings, underscoring the urgent need for equitable access to healthcare and education to improve long-term reproductive and systemic health outcomes.
Dr. Anisur Rahman, a senior director at icddr,b, emphasized that early menopause should be recognized as a vital health indicator for a woman’s future well-being rather than just a reproductive milestone. He advocated for the integration of menopause-age monitoring into routine health screenings, particularly given the elevated health risks associated with an early transition.
While the study was observational and limited by the scope of available national demographic survey data, researchers pointed to smoking as an established lifestyle factor that correlates with earlier menopause. They are calling for increased policy focus on preventing child marriage, expanding reproductive health services, and promoting female education as essential strategies to address this emerging public health challenge across South Asia and beyond.
0%
0%
0%
0%
