Genetic correlation between the ages of menarche and menopause

Using mostly prospective menstrual data from mothers and daughters in the T remin Trust Menstrual Reproductive History Program, this study produces the first estimates of the genetic correlation between the ages of menarche an d menopause. I carried out two separate analyses. Standard regression analy sis of 21 mother/daughter dyads with natural menopause yielded a nonsignifi cant negative mean genetic correlation of r(A) = -0.139 +/- 1.268. Survival analysis/maximum likelihood estimation on a dataset which included an addi tional 85 dyads with censored observations on daughters (N = 106) yielded a nonsignificant positive genetic correlation of r(A) = 0.613 +/- 0.587 (p = 0.1492). Although a substantial non-zero correlation cannot be ruled out, these estimates suggest there is no genetic correlation between menarche an d menopause, in agreement with previous phenotypic findings. As inconclusiv e as they may be, these estimates also contribute to our understanding of t he nature of selection working on the reproductive life span of human femal es.