Working atypical shifts has a well-documented negative impact on one’s lifestyle and sleeping patterns. Shift work has also been shown to be harmful to employees’ health. According to a new study, it may also postpone the beginning of natural menopause due to changes in circadian rhythms. Menopause, the journal of the North American Menopause Society, has published the study’s findings online.
In recent years, shift work has become more common across the world, with an estimated 20% of the economically active population in North America and Europe working irregular or alternate shifts. Although shift work has become an economic necessity to meet rising demand for products and services, it is not without consequences to one’s health. Previous research has connected shift employment to an increased risk of coronary events, with night shifts having the highest risk. Peptic ulcers, type 2 diabetes, and malignancies of the prostate, colorectal, and breast are all connected health issues.
Although previous research has shown that shift work has a range of detrimental health consequences on working people, there has been little research on the effects of shift work on middle-aged and older people. The age of natural menopause is a source of concern for middle-aged and older women, since both early and late menopause can be a significant risk factor for subsequent morbidity and mortality. In the past, smoking, parity, and socioeconomic status have all been connected to variances in natural menopause age.
Previous studies have revealed a probable influence of circadian rhythm disturbance on ovulation and fertility, therefore researchers postulated that shift work may be a factor that affects age at menopause. Furthermore, excessive exposure to artificial light during the dark hours has been shown to decrease melatonin, which leads to ovarian activity disturbance. Little research has been done on the association between shift work and natural menopause age.
