Earlier Menopause Linked to Higher Risk of Bronchiectasis in Women

Large U.S. Study Connects Menopause Timing and Lung Disease Risk

A study published in the July 2026 issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation found that women who experience menopause earlier, or have a shorter reproductive lifespan, are at higher risk of developing bronchiectasis.

The research analyzed data from nearly 97,000 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), a long-term health study involving over 161,000 women from 40 clinical sites across the United States.

What the Evidence Shows: Study Design and Main Findings

Researchers examined the relationship between reproductive lifespan (the years between first menstruation and menopause) and the risk of adult-onset bronchiectasis. They also considered the use of postmenopausal hormone therapy.

Results showed that women with a reproductive lifespan of more than 40 years had a 22% lower risk of developing bronchiectasis compared to those with less than 30 years, in the absence of hormone therapy. Use of hormone therapy was linked to a 19% greater risk of bronchiectasis.

Context for Metabolic Health and Hormones

Bronchiectasis is a chronic lung disease with permanently widened airways, leading to mucus buildup and impaired bacterial clearance. It affects over 1 million people worldwide and is nearly twice as common in women as in men.

Hormonal changes during menopause are known to influence various aspects of metabolic and respiratory health. This study suggests that the duration of natural hormone exposure may play a role in lung health for women.

Limitations and Remaining Questions

The study was observational and cannot prove that earlier menopause causes bronchiectasis. It also did not explore the biological mechanisms behind the association.

Researchers noted that more work is needed to understand how reproductive hormones affect airway health and whether hormone therapy directly influences bronchiectasis risk in postmenopausal women.