Adverse childhood experiences, age at menopause, and vasomotor symptoms among midlife Latine adults in California

Abstract The menopausal transition is a pivotal period in the female reproductive lifespan with potential consequences for long-term health and quality of life. Latine adults in the US often experience menopause earlier and have more frequent vasomotor symptoms (VMS) compared to non-Latine White adults. These differences may be partly attributed to early life adversity, such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which may alter energy allocation towards faster maturation and reproductive efforts, potentially shaping variations in menopausal experiences. Using data from a sample of primarily immigrant, Mexican adults living in an agricultural region in California (N=459), we evaluated the extent to which ACEs were associated with age at menopause and VMS (hot flashes and night sweats). In adjusted models, having ACEs (vs. none) was significantly associated with experiencing hot flashes (1–3 ACEs: OR = 2.50, 95% CI: 1.57 – 4.00; 4+ ACEs: OR = 2.51, 95% CI: 1.49 – 4.24) and night sweats (1–3 ACEs: OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.02 – 2.76; 4+ ACEs: OR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.37 – 4.06) but not earlier menopause (e.g., 1–3 ACEs: HR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.59 – 1.21). These results suggest that the sequelae of childhood adversity may influence menopausal symptom burden.