Menopause is almost unique to human beings. With the exception of dolphins and some species of whales, very few species in the animal world go through a long period of infertility in the later stages of life.
As pointed out by Natalie Angier in her book, “Women: An Intimate Geography,” menopause frees women from the role of child-bearer in the second half of life, and for a very practical reason. Mothers in non-industrialized societies can easily care for one infant but because human children develop more slowly than animals do, caring for a second child is difficult without the assistance of grandmothers and aunts who no longer bear children and are thus free to help with food provision and child care.
