GPs have been advised to monitor patients with endometriosis for early menopause with findings showing raised risks of early (between ages 40-44) and premature menopause (before age 40) for these women. 

Surgical menopause occurred on average 19 months sooner in women with endometriosis and natural menopause five months earlier, the Australian authors found.

Those with endometriosis faced a sevenfold higher chance of surgical menopause than natural menopause, according to researchers.

“Long-term monitoring of women with endometriosis is recommended, given their elevated risk of surgical menopause and premature or early menopause, which are associated with adverse health outcomes in later life,” the authors said in the Human Reproduction study.