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Genomic analysis identifies variants that can predict the timing of menopause

A broad analysis has identified genetic variants that influence age at natural menopause. The results implicate mechanisms such as DNA-damage repair and give insights into the potential for predicting and treating early menopause.
  1. Krina T. Zondervan

    1. Krina T. Zondervan is in the Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Women’s Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK, and at the Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, UK.

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Menopause is the permanent cessation of menstrual cycles in women following the loss of ovarian function1. It occurs, on average, between 47 and 52 years of age globally2, but around 4% of women undergo it before the age of 45 (early menopause) or even 40 (primary ovarian insufficiency; POI)3. Being able to predict when menopause will occur would give women and their partners greater flexibility in choosing when to have a child. This knowledge, and treatments to delay menopause, might be particularly welcomed by women at high risk of early menopause or POI. Ruth et al.4 now report genetic findings that could bring us a step closer to predicting and treating early menopause.

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Nature 596, 345-346 (2021)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-01710-8

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Competing Interests

Financial competing interests: Scientific collaborations in translational research with Bayer AG and Roche Diagnostics, Inc. through the University of Oxford.

Non-financial competing interests: Board member of the World Endometriosis Society and the World Endometriosis Research Foundation. Research Advisory Committee member of Wellbeing of Women UK.

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