WIDER IMPLICATION S The findings of this review indicate that alcohol consumption , particularly low and moderate alcohol intake , might be associated with later onset of menopause although the magnitude of the association is low .
BACKGROUND Early onset of menopause is associated with long-term health risks , including cardiovascular disease and premature death .
Although alcohol intake has been suggested to affect the age at which natural menopause occurs , results from observational studies are not consistent .
OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE In the view of the differing risks to the health of early menopause and the increasing trends in alcohol consumption in women , in this systematic review , we aim ed to quantify the association between all levels of alcohol consumption and menopause onset .
Alcohol effects on naloxone-stimulated luteinizing hormone, prolactin and estradiol in women.
Plasma luteinizing hormone ( LH ) , estradiol , prolactin and progesterone levels were measured in nine normal adult women prior to and following administration of naloxone and oral ingestion of ethanol or placebo-control solution .  Each subject served as her own control in a double-blind study carried out during the midluteal phase of the menstrual cycle . The mean ( + /- SD ) progesterone level was 13.9 + /- 1.3 during control conditions and 13.9 + /- 1.7 during alcohol conditions . The mean peak blood alcohol level was 100 + /- 13 mg/dl within 45 - 60 min after initiation of drinking . Under placebo-control conditions , naloxone stimulated a significant increase in plasma LH and prolactin but did not increase estradiol or progesterone . Alcohol did not attenuate the significant naloxone stimulation of LH , and progesterone levels were equivalent under alcohol and control conditions . Alcohol significantly enhanced naloxone stimulation of prolactin and estradiol . Alcohol administration significantly augmented the naloxone-induced increase in plasma prolactin levels . After alcohol administration , naloxone also induced a significant increase in plasma estradiol levels , which was sustained throughout the 180-min sampling period . The mechanisms underlying alcohol 's enhancement of naloxone-stimulated prolactin and estradiol remain to be determined . The alcohol-related increase in naloxone-stimulated prolactin secretion may reflect increased hypothalamic and /or pituitary sensitivity to alcohol following endogenous opioid blockade by naloxone or an effect of increased estrogen levels . The significant increase in plasma estradiol levels following concurrent naloxone and alcohol administration may occur as a consequence of alterations in steroid biotransformation associated with intrahepatic ethanol catabolism
WIDER IMPLICATION S The findings of this review indicate that alcohol consumption , particularly low and moderate alcohol intake , might be associated with later onset of menopause although the magnitude of the association is low .
BACKGROUND Early onset of menopause is associated with long-term health risks , including cardiovascular disease and premature death .
Although alcohol intake has been suggested to affect the age at which natural menopause occurs , results from observational studies are not consistent .
OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE In the view of the differing risks to the health of early menopause and the increasing trends in alcohol consumption in women , in this systematic review , we aim ed to quantify the association between all levels of alcohol consumption and menopause onset .