Women could evolve to the point where menopause ceases to exist, creating a near-future scenario in which new moms are joining the PTA and the AARP simultaneoulsy.
The radical change could come because women are living longer and healthier lives than ever before, according to science writer and former cancer researcher Aarathi Prasad who presented her case at the The Telegraph’s Hay Festival.
The existence of older, healthier women flies in the face of the most common explanation of menopause called the “Grandmother Hypothesis.”
This theory holds that women stop ovulating later in life so that older and younger generations do not compete in the gene pool.
But with women staying healthier, longer, there is no need for this process, according to Prasad.
“It is a health risk potentially and it is a real inescapable block on reproduction for one half of us – the women, but not the men,” Prasad said.
“The mood of scientists working on this and looking to the future is we will either technologically or scientifically evolve out of the menopause.”
“It is something that will probably be overcome.”
Prasad went on to say that scientists are looking into early menopause and are hopeful that they will find a gene that causes the condition.
Once the gene is found, a gene therapy treatment can be developed to stop menopause for all women.
“[Menopause] is something not in all mammals, is it something necessary or beneficial for us?”
“I do not see any benefits,” Prasad concluded.