Evaluation of Some Risk Factors on the Age at Menopause in South Indian Women

Menopause, a natural resting phase to the ovaries puts an end to the fertile period of a woman. The
decline of ovarian hormones are found as the key factors to this transitional phase in the life cycle of
women. However, it is difficult to conclude the causative factors for the ovarian dysfunction. The
present study is carried out to ascertain the role of some of the socio-economic, lifestyle and
environmental factors in this biological transition. The role of heridity on the age at onset of menopause
is ruled out in the present study. The outcome of the present study is putforward by a hypothesis called
“waning hypothesis”, which explains the crucial role of reproductive hormones in menopause.