Relationships between intensity, duration, cumulative dose, and timing of smoking with age at menopause: A pooled analysis of individual data from 17 observational studies

Abstract

Higher intensity, longer duration, higher cumulative dose, earlier age at start smoking, and shorter time since quitting smoking were significantly associated with higher risk of premature (<40 years) and early menopause (40-44 years), as well as earlier menopause at 45 49 years. Duration of smoking was a strong predictor of age at natural menopause. Smokers who had quit smoking for more than 10 years had similar risk as never smokers.