UQ study finds link between endometriosis and early menopause in women

Queensland researchers have discovered a worrying link between endometriosis and a woman going into menopause in her late 30s or early 40s.

Women with endometriosis are at a greater risk of entering menopause early

Women with endometriosis are at a greater risk of entering menopause early, Queensland researchers have found.

In an international study, analysing almost 280,000 women with the chronic condition, University of Queensland researchers also found they were seven times more at risk of surgical menopause, which was the removal of both ovaries before the natural onset of menopause.

The findings revealed that surgical menopause was likely to occur 19 months earlier in women with the condition, while natural menopause could occur five months earlier.

Endometriosis was a chronic inflammatory disease that caused tissue, similar to the lining of the womb, to grow in other parts of the body, affecting one in seven Australian women.

Findings from the study, which analysed women from Australia, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Japan between 1996 and 2022, also found women with endometriosis faced a higher risk of premature menopause (before age 40) or early menopause (between the ages of 40 to 44).

The average age of menopause for women who do not suffer from endometriosis was 50 to 51.

Dr Hsin-Fang Chung, from the University of Queensland’s School of Public Health, said while it was known that endometriosis and its treatment could reduce egg quality and quantity, research on its effect on the timing of menopause was limited.

“We already know that premature menopause will increase their future risk of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease,” Dr Chung said.

“Women with endometriosis should visit their GP regularly to check for chronic disease risk factors and focus on prevention strategies.”

Dr Chung hoped the findings would inform future updates for endometriosis management guidelines, strengthening the importance of long-term monitoring of the condition.

“The current guidelines are more focused on shorter management and infertility treatment, not too much of the long-term management of health outcomes,” she said.

“We hope these findings provide some awareness to women (with endometriosis), letting them know that they could be at risk of experiencing earlier menopause either naturally or surgically.”

Originally published as UQ study finds link between endometriosis and early menopause in women