Do Environmental Exposures Bring On Early Menopause?

Environmental Exposures & Early Menopause | Weekly Bulletins | Andrew Weil, M.D.

1 min

A University of Michigan study has found that exposure to polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) appears to bring on early menopause. The investigators report that among more than 1,120 premenopausal women studied, those whose exposure to PFAs was highest reached menopause two years earlier than normal. These so-called “forever chemicals” are found in many household items including nonstick cookware, food packaging, furniture and even drinking water. The study’s senior author Sung Kyun Park, Sc.D. of the University of Michigan School of Public Health, noted that reaching menopause even a few years earlier than usual “could have a significant impact on cardiovascular and bone health, quality of life, and overall health in general among women.” Earlier studies have linked exposure to PFAS to weight gain, chronic kidney disease and celiac disease.

Source:
Sung Kyun Park et al “Associations of Perfluoroalkyl Substances with Incident Natural Menopause: the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation,” The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, June 3, 2020, doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgaa303