Cigarette smoking could cause women to enter menopause early, according to new research.
The research, which analyzed the health records of almost 140,000 British women, found that those who smoked frequently were more likely to begin menopause before the age of 45.
Women who smoked more than 30 packs of cigarettes a year were 50 percent more likely to experience early menopause than those who had never smoked.
Crucially, the study, carried out by scientists at Central South University in China, concluded that quitting smoking could reduce a woman’s chances of having early menopause by up to a third.
Experts maintain that smoking reduces levels of the female sex hormone estrogen, which triggers menopause. Some have also warned that smoking electronic cigarettes, also known as vaporizers, can have a similar effect.
Menopause is when periods stop due to low hormone levels. This is usually accompanied by symptoms such as hot flashes, difficulty sleeping, and vaginal dryness.
For most women in the UK, menopause occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. However, about five percent will go through menopause between the ages of 40 and 45.
Previous studies have linked early menopause to smoking. In 2015, a UK study found that women who smoked tended to reach menopause about a year earlier than non-smokers.
Women who smoked more than 30 packs of cigarettes a year were 50 percent more likely to experience early menopause than those who had never smoked, a new study suggests.
Experts say smoking reduces levels of the female sex hormone estrogen, triggering menopause.
Other research has suggested that smoking can also worsen menopausal symptoms: Regular smokers experience more hot flashes and heavier night sweats.
Postmenopausal smokers are also at greater risk of osteoporosis, a bone-thinning disease, than non-smokers. One study found that smokers are 35 percent more likely to break a hip than those who never smoked.
But this latest study is the largest and most detailed yet exploring the link between smoking and early menopause.
While it is not yet known why smoking increases the risk of early menopause, experts believe that the habit limits the body’s ability to produce estrogen.
And it’s not just smoking that can affect estrogen levels.
“Vaping is a new area, but some data suggests it could also reduce women’s fertility,” says Dr Shazia Malik, consultant obstetrician and gynecologist at Portland Hospital.
“Animal studies have suggested that the chemicals in vaping liquid may even affect embryo implantation, in addition to being harmful to the female reproductive system in general.”