This paper uses a cross-sectional sample of women aged 45-49 to investigate factors that might be associated with an early menopause. Using logistic regression analysis we found that age, smoking, age of maternal menopause, parity, social class, meat and alcohol consumption were all independently associated with an early natural menopause. Meat, alcohol consumption and maternal menopausal age do not seem to have been previously noted as associated with the timing of the menopause. These associations would merit further study, preferably using prospective data. However, this study in line with much previous work shows that smoking is associated with a reduction in menopausal age.