Factors Associated with Delayed Menopause in Iran: Findings from Fasa Cohort Study, a Branch of Persian Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: The investigation of middle-aged women’s mental and physical health measures should be focused on menopause-a predictable physiological phenomenon in their lives. The prevalence of a majority of chronic diseases increases after this period. This study aimed to determine the risk factors of delayed menopause (climacterium tardum). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The current cross-sectional research was conducted on 1930 menopausal women who were referred to the cohort study of Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fars Province, Iran, during 2014-2015. The data were extracted from the database, and then the variables were checked for accuracy. Finally, the data were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The study population included 1930 menopausal women with the mean age of 57.98 ± 5.8 years. Of these, 1555 (80.6%) were married, and the rest were single and widowed. The mean age at menarche was 13.7 ± 1.64 years. Additionally, 1726 women (89.4%) had experienced natural menopause, whereas the rest had experienced delayed menopause. The results of the multivariate analysis indicated that delayed menopause was associated with marital status, education level, age at menarche, occupation, abortion, and use of contraceptive methods. However, no significant relationship was found between delayed menopause and smoking, duration of lactation, duration of using contraceptive pills, and number of childbirths. CONCLUSION: Considering the increased life expectancy among women, delayed menopause, and its risk factors should be taken into account. Although genetic factors play key roles in age at the onset of menopause, the role of sociodemographic factors such as marital status and pregnancy should not be ignored.