Abstract

Objectives: To study the mean age at natural menopause (ANM) and factors associated with the age of natural menopause in postmenopausal women in Da Nang City.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 850 postmenopausal women, seen at 17 Health station of 17 wards in Danang City from August to September, 2023. Research was done by questionnaire for each researching object, collected BMI index,  characteristics of menstrual cycle and obstetric history to identify the average age of natural menopause and factors associated with the age of natural menopause by multi-stage cluster sampling method.

Results: the mean ANM (SD) in postmenopausal women in Da Nang City was 50,68 ± 3,77 years. Women living in urban areas had higher average age of natural menopause than women living in rural and mountainous areas. Women working in agriculture had the lowest average age of natural menopause. Women with a high school education or higher had average age of natural menopause later than menopause with an education level of less than high school. Women living with their husbands had the highest average age of menopause. The earlier the age of irregular menstrual cycles and the shorter the duration of menstrual cycles fluctuations, the earlier the average age of menopause. Women who smoke and stay up late had earlier menopause than women who do not smoke and go to bed early.

Conclusion: The mean ANM (SD) was 50,68 ± 3,77 years. There were relationships between geography, occupation, educational attainment, marital status, irregular menstrual cycles before menopause, smoking and staying up past 12 midnight with the mean age of natural menopause.