Lifestyle Changes, Fewer Births Linked to Early Menopause – Expert

Dr. Hameed Adediran, a public health expert, has linked the increasing incidence of early menopause among women today to significant lifestyle shifts—particularly declining childbirth rates compared to previous generations.

Dr. Adediran, who serves as Senior Programme Manager and Team Lead of Menstrual Health Initiatives at Population Services International (PSI) Nigeria, made this known on Friday during the opening session of a two-day media workshop in Lagos. The event, organized by PSI Nigeria, aimed to equip media practitioners and influencers with accurate knowledge on menstrual health, bridging the gap between science, storytelling, and social change.

Speaking on the biological implications of reproductive patterns, Adediran explained that women are born with roughly 1 to 2 million eggs, but only about 400 are released through ovulation during their reproductive lifespan. Each menstrual cycle represents the loss of one of these eggs.

However, he noted that menstruation ceases during pregnancy and can remain paused for several months during breastfeeding, resulting in a natural preservation of eggs.

“In earlier generations, especially in many African societies, it was common for women to have four to six children,” he said. “Each child typically meant about 15 months of egg preservation—nine months of pregnancy and up to six months of breastfeeding.”

He continued, “If a woman had five children, that’s 75 months—over six years—during which menstruation was paused, delaying the depletion of eggs and, consequently, the onset of menopause.”

Using simple arithmetic, Adediran illustrated that a woman who begins menstruating at 15 and has a reproductive span of about 400 cycles would typically reach menopause between ages 48 and 50. However, with fewer pregnancies and extended uninterrupted menstruation, the egg reserve is depleted faster, leading to an earlier menopause.

“In today’s urban and modern society, many women have one child, two children, or none at all. This means menstruation continues month after month without interruption, accelerating egg loss and bringing menopause earlier than in previous generations,” he said.

While acknowledging the role of other factors such as genetics, health conditions, and exposure to environmental toxins, Adediran emphasized that declining fertility trends play a critical role in the shifting menopause timeline.

He called on the media to help drive public awareness about the biological and social consequences of changing reproductive behaviors, particularly the long-term impact on menstrual health and women’s overall well-being.

“This is about understanding the full picture of how modern choices and lifestyles affect women’s health not just physically, but emotionally and biologically,” he added.