Abstract: The menopausal age was surveyed in Han, Mongol and Hui ethnic groups in Huhhot City, Inner Mongolia. The median ages at menopause (X ?±S.E.) for Han, Mongol and Hui women in the city proper were found to be 50.57±0.13, 50.47±0.17 and 50.76±0.20 years, respectively, and no significant difference was found between these three groups. The median age a menopause of Han women in suburbs was 50.17 t 0.17 which did not significantly differ from that in city proper. The median age at menopause of Han women in city proper has postponed about 4 years during the last 30 years. And in average, the menopausal age of daughter was 1.8 years later than their mother's. It was also found that the ages at menopause of mother and daughter were significantly related (r=0.4599), and the heretabiIity for menopausal age was 0.7006.

Key words: Menopause age; Heritability