Early menopause linked to osteoporosis

Women who go through the menopause early are twice as likely to suffer from osteoporosis as they age, according to the results of a new study.

The report, published in BJOG, analysed the long-term health implications of early menopause.

In 1977, scientists measured the bone mineral density of 390 women aged 48. They found follow-up tests 30 years later revealed 56 per cent of women who started the menopause before the age of 47 had osteoporosis, compared to just 30 per cent of those who had a later menopause.

There was also a higher mortality rate among the early menopause group - 52 per cent compared to 35.2 per cent.

However, BJOG Deputy Editor-in-Chief Pierre Martin-Hirsch believes this link could be affected by a number of other factors including medication, nutrition, alcohol consumption and smoking.