A study published in the journal Science suggests that chimpanzees, particularly those in the Ngogo community in Uganda, experience menopause-like conditions, providing insights into the evolutionary factors behind menopause in humans.
The study analyzed the mortality and fertility rates of female chimpanzees and found that Ngogo chimpanzee females, but not those in other populations, spend a significant portion of their adult lives in a post-reproductive state.
This phenomenon challenges previous theories about menopause and suggests that menopause may have evolved to reduce competition for breeding opportunities between aging females and their daughters in chimpanzee society.