The Association between Oligomenorrhea, Onset of Menopause and Metabolic Syndrome in Thai Postmenopausal Women

OBJECTIVES: This study explored the association between a history of oligomenorrhea and onset of menopause and metabolic parameters. METHODS: The study population was 605 postmenopausal women who were patients at the Menopause Clinic, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, Chiang Mai, Thailand between February 2015 and December 2015. A questionnaire was used to ask all women about their history of oligomenorrhea. The study also collected medical data, including weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure, and blood glucose and lipid profile. RESULTS: Of the 231 postmenopausal women with a complete data record, 31 had a history of oligomenorrhea and 200 did not. The age of onset of menopause was around 48 years in both groups. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 12.1%. More women with a waist circumference larger than 80 cm had a history of oligomenorrhea at the interview than women who had not, but a history of oligomenorrhea did not relate to other metabolic parameters. The adjusted odds ratio of a history of oligomenorrhea to waist circumference was 3.69 (95% confidence interval, 1.17–11.64). CONCLUSIONS: A history of oligomenorrhea did not affect the age at menopause, but was associated with waist circumference during menopause.