Due to copyright issues, an electronic copy of the thesis must be ordered from the faculty. For the faculty to have time to process the order, the order must be received by the faculty at the latest 2 days before the public defence. Orders received later than 2 days before the defence will not be processed. After the public defence, please address any inquiries regarding the thesis to the candidate.
Trial Lecture – time and place
See Trial Lecture.
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Professor Katy Vincent, University of Oxford
- Second opponent: Professor Pål Richard Romundstad, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Professor Jo Kramer-Johansen, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Professor II Katariina Laine, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Professor Leiv Arne Rosseland, Universitetet i Oslo
Summary
What can ages at menarche and menopause tell us about the chronic pain?
Over the past 40 years, research has consistently shown that women experience more chronic pain than men, including widespread pain conditions such as fibromyalgia and localised pain in head, lower back, temporomandibular joint, and abdominal areas. Hormonal differences among other psychosocial factors are believed to contribute to this disparity, but the exact mechanisms remain unclear.
This thesis aimed to explore the associations between reproductive milestones—age at menarche, age at menopause, and reproductive lifespan and their relationship with chronic pain. These factors reflect varying levels of oestradiol throughout the reproductive lifespan, with oestradiol having effects on the development of the brain and reproductive system. Data from the Tromsø study was analysed, including women aged 30 to 99 years.
The findings revealed a high prevalence rate of chronic pain 40,7 % in the Tromsø population, where 56,6 % reported pain duration lasting 5 or more years. Significant correlations between reproductive milestones and chronic pain were found. For women with each year earlier menarche, the risk of chronic pain increased by 1.2%. Similarly, with each year earlier menopause the likelihood of chronic pain increased by 0.12%. The study’s cross-sectional design limited conclusions about causation, but the results strongly suggest that age at menarche and menopause are independent risk factors for chronic pain. These findings highlight the role of hormonal and reproductive factors in chronic pain and provide a foundation for further research. Understanding these mechanisms may lead more effective strategies for prevention and treatment.
Additional information
Contact the research support staff.