It has been determined, medical experts say, based on health sources, that menopause may come about between the ages of 45 and 55 or at an average age of 50 years. However, earlier researches have shown that this inevitable chapter of a woman’s life may happen a year or two earlier for those who are regular smokers. Menopause may even come nine years earlier if these women who may be regarded as heavy smokers possess distinct genetic variations, a new study has revealed.
With the objective of determining the effect of smoking on the onset of menopause on women who were carriers of two genetic variations, a team of researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania carried out a study. The object of the research was not the gene itself, but the genetic variations identified as CYP3A*1B and the CYP1B1*3.
A total of 400 women between the ages of 35 and 47 from the Penn Ovarian Ageing Study were involved in this study. Participants came from various ethnic backgrounds and who were classified into three groups, namely: heavy smokers, light smokers, and the nonsmokers.
At the conclusion of the study, it was determined that the average time-to-menopause for the carriers of the CYP3A4*1B variation was 5.09 years for the heavy smokers, 11.36 years for the light smokers, and 13.91 years for the nonsmokers. For those carrying the CYP1B1*3 variation, the average time-to-menopause for the heavy smoker was 10.41 years, 10.42 years for the light smoker, and 11.08 years for the nonsmoker. It may be noted that the significant difference was on the CYP3A4*1B variant although differences were also found in the second gene variation.
It may be concluded, based on these results, that women who carry this gene variation and are heavy smokers are at risk of an early menopause by as much as nine years compared to those who may have the same variation but are not smokers. Although the increase in risks of an earlier menopause may include all women from different races, this significant difference was markedly present in white women smokers.
Implications of Study Results
Particularly for white women, we are once again confronted with another devastating effect of smoking in a woman’s health. For one, this may have a huge impact on the reproductive health of a woman. It may not become possible for a white female in her 40’s and who smokes a lot to get pregnant, even if it is very common to see women in these ages to go through pregnancy.
Distressing and annoying symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats, mood disorders, and anxiety may have to be faced during early menopause. A great impact on one’s sexual life may also be faced due to the drop in estrogen levels which may cause vaginal dryness. Another problem that may surface is the very common urinary incontinence which can be very disruptive and embarrassing.
It may even get to a point that the urinary incontinence may require surgical options, such as the vaginal mesh surgeries. This may only add to the woes of the woman, in light of reports that the use of mesh implants may result to severe complications. As a result of the serious injuries suffered by patients, legal actions such as filing of vaginal mesh lawsuits have been taken. Only last year, the vaginal mesh lawsuit of Linda Gross was decided when the jury handed a decision finding Ethicon liable for the injuries she sustained.
References:
sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140205103141.htm
webmd.com/menopause/guide/understanding-menopause-symptoms
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