What does this research mean for the field?

A woman's reproductive life course history, particularly pregnancy, parity, and gynecologic pathology, significantly shapes her menopausal outcomes, including the likelihood of early and surgical menopause. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To assess whether reproductive timing, pregnancy history, and reproductive health across adolescence and adulthood relate to menopausal status, early menopause, and surgical menopause at midlife.

August 29, 2026The Journals of Gerontology Series B

Reproductive life course histories and menopausal outcomes at midlife: Evidence from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health

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Authors

BMBrianah M. McCoyUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill SKStephanie M. KoningUniversity of Nevada, Reno KHKathleen Mullan HarrisUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Discussion

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Implication

Longitudinal cohort study finds reproductive history and gynecologic pathology predict early and surgical menopause in midlife women, indicating diverse pathways to menopausal transitions.

Key Points

To assess whether reproductive timing, pregnancy history, and reproductive health across adolescence and adulthood relate to menopausal status, early menopause, and surgical menopause at midlife.
Analyzed longitudinal data from female participants followed from adolescence through Wave VI (mean age 44) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health).
Constructed life course histories covering pubertal timing, parity, reproductive complications, and gynecologic conditions.
Estimated associations with menopausal status, early menopause (before age 40), and surgical menopause using survey-weighted logistic regression adjusted for socioeconomic context and cumulative reproductive stress, stratified by pregnancy history.
At midlife follow-up, 18% of women were postmenopausal; among postmenopausal participants, 69% experienced surgical menopause and 60% reached menopause before age 40.
Pregnancy and parity were consistently associated with menopausal outcomes, whereas pubertal and reproductive timing showed more limited associations.
Gynecologic pathology exhibited strong associations with both early and surgical menopause independently of pregnancy history.

Cite This Study

McCoy et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9299ac8e5d7d1fc0c11c64 https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbag175

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Implication

Longitudinal cohort study finds reproductive history and gynecologic pathology predict early and surgical menopause in midlife women, indicating diverse pathways to menopausal transitions.

Reproductive life course histories and menopausal outcomes at midlife: Evidence from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Reproductive life course histories and menopausal outcomes at midlife: Evidence from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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