Menopause has long been viewed as a fixed milestone in a woman’s life. However, emerging research in longevity medicine is beginning to challenge that idea. As science uncovers more about how aging affects reproductive health — and vice versa — a new question is taking shape: Could supporting DNA health and targeting aging pathways actually delay menopause?
Take a look below at how longevity science ties into reproductive aging, what current research is saying about DNA’s role, and what it could mean for future treatments.
Why Reproductive Aging Matters in Women’s Health
Reproductive aging is often the first sign that aging processes have begun. Ovarian function begins to decline years before menopause, with hormonal shifts sometimes appearing as early as a woman’s late 30s. This is not only a reproductive issue — it’s a signal of systemic aging that affects bone density, heart health, brain function, and metabolic stability, with significant implications for long-term healthcare planning.
In fact, menopause timing has been linked to long-term health outcomes. A recent review of epidemiological studies found that later menopause is linked to longer lifespan and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. However, these benefits may come with trade-offs, including an increased risk of hormone-sensitive cancers in some cases.(1)(2)
The idea of reproductive longevity — extending ovarian function as part of healthy aging — is gaining traction within the field of longevity science. It raises a key question: Can we influence the biological clock?(2)
Understanding Menopause as a Marker of Aging
The human body has more than one aging clock. While chronological age measures how many years someone has lived, biological age shows how well the body’s cells and systems are working. In women, the ovaries often start to age before other parts of the body show signs of getting older.(3)
Ovarian aging involves the following:
A declining ovarian reserve (fewer healthy follicles)
Reduced estrogen production
Increased DNA wear and genetic damage inside egg cells
As a woman gets older, her eggs naturally accumulate DNA changes and lose their ability to repair damage. Over time, this leads to menopause. However, new research suggests that this process might not be completely set in stone.
Can healthy DNA delay menopause?
Researchers are starting to uncover how the health of a woman’s DNA can affect when she goes through menopause. Several recent studies suggest that wear and tear on DNA, and how well the body can fix it, may determine how long the ovaries stay functional.(4)(5)
DNA Repair and Ovarian Health
A report from the University of Cambridge found that women with better DNA repair systems tend to go through menopause later than those whose repair systems are less efficient. DNA repair is the body’s way of fixing genetic damage caused by things like toxins, chemicals, viruses, or even normal cell activity. The ovaries, especially the egg cells (called oocytes), are very sensitive to this kind of damage.(4)
Each woman is born with a set number of egg cells. Over time, those eggs are exposed to various harmful factors:
Oxidative Stress: This chemical imbalance caused by free radicals can damage cells and DNA.
Inflammation: Long-term immune activity can wear down tissue.
Environmental Toxins: Environmental factors such as radiation, pollution, or cigarette smoke can cause damage to cells.
If the cells can't repair this damage well, the egg cells may die or become too damaged to function properly. As more eggs are lost or weakened, the ovaries stop working, leading to menopause.
Oxidative Stress and Mitochondria
Egg cells rely heavily on mitochondria — the tiny “power plants” inside cells that produce energy. Oocytes need a lot of energy to divide and to protect their DNA. But when mitochondria are damaged, they produce even more free radicals, creating a cycle of stress that accelerates egg cell aging.(5)(6)
This process, known as mitochondrial dysfunction, has been linked to faster ovarian aging. When the mitochondria don’t work properly, egg quality declines, and menopause may come sooner.(5)
Epigenetic Clocks and Biological Aging
Another important factor is how the body ages at the cellular level. A 2024 study looked at the connection between “epigenetic clocks” and menopause. Epigenetic clocks are tools that measure biological aging by looking at a process called DNA methylation — a natural chemical change that affects how genes turn on or off over time. These clocks function as biomarkers of cellular aging and may offer predictive insight into menopause timing.(7)
The study found that women whose epigenetic clocks were ticking faster (meaning their cells were aging more quickly) tended to reach menopause earlier. This suggests that cellular aging plays a direct role in when menopause happens.
What This Means
These findings show that menopause isn’t only about the number of eggs a woman is born with — it also involves how well her body maintains the health of those eggs over time. While genes do play a role, certain lifestyle and medical approaches may help support DNA repair, reduce oxidative stress, and slow down cellular aging. In other words, keeping DNA healthy may help extend ovarian function and delay menopause.(7)

Supporting DNA Health Through Lifestyle and Prevention
While genetics plays a key role in menopause timing, lifestyle also matters. A large cohort study found that women who smoked or had poor diets tended to enter menopause earlier.(8)
By contrast, the following habits support DNA and mitochondrial health and may help preserve reproductive function:
Avoiding tobacco and alcohol
Consuming antioxidant-rich foods — e.g., berries, leafy greens, nuts
Ensuring adequate intake of micronutrients — e.g., folate, magnesium, and B vitamins
Managing stress and improving sleep quality
Engaging in physical activity
These strategies help keep DNA stable and protect cells from damage caused by oxidative stress. Together, they may slow down ovarian aging and support the optimization of reproductive health during midlife.
Longevity Interventions: From Metformin to mTOR
Scientists are now exploring whether medications designed to slow aging can also preserve reproductive function. These treatments target the cellular systems responsible for aging across the body, including in the ovaries. The following information is from research still in early stages, but could show promise in the future.
Rapamycin and the mTOR Pathway
One of the most studied drugs in longevity science is Rapamycin, which affects a major biological system called the mTOR pathway. The mTOR pathway helps control how cells grow, process energy, and respond to nutrients. Over time, too much mTOR activity has been linked to faster aging and age-related diseases.(9)
In a key study involving mice, scientists gave female mice short-term doses of Rapamycin. The results showed that the drug extended the animals’ reproductive lifespan, meaning they stayed fertile longer. Importantly, this happened without causing problems for the health or quality of their offspring.(3)(9)
Researchers are now testing this idea in humans. A study is underway to see whether taking a low-dose Rapamycin pill once a week could slow down ovarian aging in women. If successful, it could lead to new ways of helping women delay menopause or extend their fertility window.(10)
Metformin, NAD+, and Caloric Restriction Mimetics
Several other compounds are also being studied for their effects on aging and ovarian health:
Metformin: This medication is commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes. It works by improving the body’s response to insulin, a hormone that controls blood sugar. Because insulin resistance is linked to faster aging and inflammation, Metformin may help protect the ovaries by lowering stress on the body’s systems. Some researchers also believe it could reduce the risk of early menopause.(3)
NAD+ Precursors: NAD+ precursors, such as NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) and NR (nicotinamide riboside), are compounds that increase levels of NAD+, a molecule that supports DNA repair and keeps mitochondria functioning properly. Since egg cells need healthy mitochondria to survive and divide, boosting NAD+ may help preserve egg quality.(11)
Caloric Restriction Mimetics: These are compounds that imitate the effects of eating fewer calories without actually reducing food intake. In animal studies, these compounds have been shown to slow aging and improve overall cell health. Because calorie restriction itself has been linked to longer reproductive lifespan in animals, mimicking this effect may help delay menopause as well.(3)(8)
While most of these interventions are still in early research stages, they offer a possible future path toward extending reproductive healthspan.
Although these medications look promising in lab studies with mice, they are not approved treatments for menopause, longevity, or reproductive health. Patients cannot ask for them or get a prescription to use them for these purposes at this time.
Is delaying menopause always beneficial?
Later menopause has been linked to several long-term health benefits. Studies have shown that women who experience menopause at a later age often also experience the following:(8)
Better cardiovascular health
Stronger bones and higher bone mineral density
Lower risk of cognitive decline in later life
While prolonged exposure to estrogen, whether natural or through hormone replacement therapy (HRT), may carry increased risk for certain hormone-sensitive conditions, like breast or endometrial cancer, these risks vary and should always be assessed on an individual basis.
Importantly, many women benefit from experiencing late menopause or from estrogen therapy when guided by a physician trained in menopause care. Personalized strategies that consider family history, lifestyle, and overall health allow women to make informed choices that align with their goals for healthy aging.
Hormone Therapy and Longevity: What the Research Shows
Hormone therapy is often used to relieve menopause symptoms like hot flashes, but it may also offer long-term health benefits. Research from one study found that women who used estrogen after menopause lived longer than those who did not, possibly because estrogen supports the brain, heart, bones, and blood vessels. Other studies from California and the Netherlands suggest that starting hormone therapy around menopause and continuing for at least five years is linked to higher odds of living past age 90. Large trials like the WHI didn’t show a strong connection to longevity, but timing, formulation, and individual health factors likely influence outcomes. Early and consistent use may do more than ease symptoms — it may help support healthier aging overall.(1)(12)(13)
The Scientific and Ethical Frontiers of Reproductive Longevity
Longevity medicine is already challenging traditional ideas about aging, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Scientists are now exploring ways to rejuvenate the ovaries and even reverse menopause.
Experimental Frontiers in Ovarian Longevity
CRISPR and Gene Editing: These may one day allow scientists to repair damage in reproductive DNA. This carries the potential to improve egg quality or even restore fertility in women whose ovaries have aged prematurely.(14)
Ovarian Tissue Regeneration: A form of regenerative medicine using stem cells is being studied as a possible treatment for women who enter menopause early, whether due to natural causes or cancer treatments. Early research suggests this technique might restore hormone production and even ovulation.(15)
Biohacking Methods: Concepts like “ovarian resets” are gaining interest among online communities focused on longevity. These approaches are still highly experimental, and many lack scientific validation.
The Ethics of Reproductive Longevity
As these methods move from the lab to real life, they bring up important ethical questions. One concern is access: Will only wealthy or well-connected individuals be able to afford treatments that delay menopause or extend fertility? Another issue is safety. Because these interventions affect genes, hormones, and reproductive cells, the long-term risks for both women and potential offspring must be carefully studied.(2)
There are also deeper questions about the future of fertility. If science makes it possible for people to conceive well into older age, how might that affect parenting, public health, or society at large?(6)
Experts agree that any move toward reproductive longevity must be paired with responsible oversight, strong clinical trials, and thoughtful discussion — not just about what’s possible, but about what’s safe and fair.(2)(6)
The Future of Menopause and Longevity Medicine
While menopause is a natural part of life, its timing and experience may not be entirely fixed. DNA repair, mitochondrial health, and biological aging appear to play central roles in reproductive decline. Longevity science is beginning to offer new tools — not to avoid menopause altogether, but to approach it in ways that support health, agency, and quality of life.
Emerging research may one day make it possible to delay menopause safely, but for now, lifestyle strategies and medical support like HRT remain the foundation of healthy aging and a smooth menopause transition.
Experiencing menopausal symptoms? Discover if HRT is a good fit.
Many women experiencing hot flashes, night sweats, low libido, or brain fog may benefit from hormone therapy, especially when tailored to their unique health history. Interested in learning whether HRT could support health and longevity during the transition?
Take this brief quiz to discover if HRT is right for your body and long-term health goals.