A new study by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) has found that one in thirteen Bangladeshi women experience menopause before the age of forty-five, a rate higher than the average in low- and middle-income countries. The findings, based on data from 716,648 women aged 30 to 49 across 44 countries, were published in BMJ Global Health. The study identified that 7.5 percent of Bangladeshi women face early menopause, compared to 7.1 percent across similar economies.

Researchers observed that rural women in Bangladesh are 17 percent more likely to experience early menopause than urban women, even after accounting for education, income, and reproductive history. Education emerged as a key protective factor, with higher education levels linked to significantly lower risk. Women marrying or giving birth after age 18 also showed reduced risk.

The study highlights early menopause as a major health indicator, increasing risks of heart disease, osteoporosis, depression, and memory loss. Researchers urged regular screening of menopausal age in women’s health services and called for stronger investment in girls’ education, prevention of child marriage, and equitable access to reproductive healthcare.