We know what causes Menopause, it is the loss of ovarian function and the decline of our reproductive hormones, which means our reproductive years are over. But why do we have to go through the Menopause at a certain point in our lives? What purpose does it have to us as a species? Obviously as our bodies age then child bearing becomes riskier to our health and the health of babies.
The average age today a woman naturally goes through Menopause is between the ages of 45 and 55 years and this is not a lot of difference to the age that the great Greek philosopher, Aristotle, referred to Menopause, which was 40 years. According to the Office of National Statistics the life expectancy of women in the UK in the period 2018 to 2020 was 8.29 years, compared to 55.4 years in 1911. This means that women today are now living 30-40 years post-Menopause. Why then with all the advances in medical science is Menopause not happening later in our lives and has remained at a close age to our ancestors in ancient Greece? If this has not greatly changed through our evolution then Menopause must have a purpose in the survival of us as a species.
This is an enigma that has been baffling scientists, and it is one that is not easily explained (not even with a Google search). But research is now starting to suggest that post-Menopause women have an important role to play in society and in our survival. One of the most interesting hypothesis that has emerged is the ‘Grandmother Hypothesis’.
The Grandmother Hypothesis may help to explain why we have Menopause. It suggests that by redirecting their energy onto those of their offspring, grandmothers can better ensure the survival of their genes through younger generations. It also suggests that this effect could also extend into larger community networks, thus helping communities to thrive. There is a lot more to the hypothesis, but I do like the theory behind it that us postmenopausal women have an important role to play in society and that we are not ‘past it’ when we reach a certain age. We are a long time postmenopausal, so it should be our time to thrive and support, and a time to bring our valuable wisdom and knowledge to fruition.
Interestingly not all mammals have Menopause, but one mammal that does have a post-reproductive lifecycle similar to humans is the Killer Whale (Orcas). Killer Whales live in complex matriarchal communities and studies have shown that ‘grandmother’ killer whales tend to lead the hunt for food, especially when food is scarce. They use their knowledge and wisdom to help the pod survive and pass on their knowledge and wisdom to the younger generation.
If you want to explore more about the science, history and meaning of Menopause then I highly recommend ‘The Slow Moon Climbs’ by Susan P Mattern. It is an in depth book that delves into to the ‘Grandmother Hypothesis’ and other evolutionary theories and casts a positive light on Menopause. I love the last couple of sentences in her book:
“Humans have Menopause because we need it. The contributions of post-reproductive women have brought us this far and will lead us into whatever future we have.” – Susan P Mattern
Next time I explore Menopause in the Workplace, how it is shifting, but employers can do more.