injuries-in-dust:

So Young!

Most animals on earth are capable of reproducing until they die.

The animal kingdom is full of strange reproductive strategies, but when it comes to menopause, humans are among the weirdest. In just three species on the planet — humans, killer whales and pilot whales — do females routinely stop breeding years before the end of their lives. Human women spend about a third of their life span after menopause.

Menopause is the time in most women’s lives when menstrual periods stop permanently, and they are no longer able to bear children.

Many species become less fertile as they age. For instance, female chimpanzees experience declining fertility rates from their early 30s onward until their reproductive chances reach zero around age 45. What makes humans and some whales different is that they carry on living and surviving with good odds for so long after menopause, whereas chimpanzees and other animals rarely survive much beyond the point where their eggs run out, even in captivity.

So, if aliens follow the pattern of the majority of life on earth they too will be able to basically reproduce until they’re shortly about to pass of natural causes.

Someone write about those poor aliens freaking out when they learn their female crewmember they’ve known for years, who seems so young, it no longer able to bear children and is surely going to die soon!

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Sarah stared at her shipmates, especially Grth'x, who had moved to the cover of the room and was chanting under his breath while rocking backand forth rhythically. “Why is Grthx starting the ‘Chant of mourning?’”

Chizzik placed a tarsel claw on Sarah’s shoulder in the show of human sympathy, “Because he loves you Human-Sarah. We all do, we shall miss you greatly.”

Sarah stared at them, “The fuck? I’m not going anywhere.”

This seemed to be the wrong thing to say, Grth'x started chanting a little louder.

Chizzik started making a whining noise by rubbing the plates of her thorax; the cry of distress, the equivalent of crying to her species. “Human-Sarah, I know you humans are a stubborn race, but you must face reality. You are no longer able to bare children, your life is coming to an end.”

Sarah slapped away Chizzik’s claw, “Fuck off. Having kids isn’t the be-all and end-all of a woman’s life. Life isn’t over just cause I can’t have kids.”

Chizzik almost admired the strength of human denial. It was the trait which had made them survive their deathworld. When even their own planet was telling them “You can’t” they were pushing ahead shouting the phrase “Watch me!” But there was surely no denying it now.

“I know it may not be easy to accept. I thought humans were a long lived race, you seem so young,”

Sarah hit a fist onto the table “Damn right! I’m 49, not even middle age. You’re not getting rid of me that easily. I’ve got another 50 years, at least.”

Chizzik looked confused. “But, your fertility, it has ended. When a life-form is no longer able to bear children, it is a undeniable sign that their bodies are shutting down, their life is ending.”

“What?” Sarah stared at Chizzik and the, still chanting, Grth'x, understanding -albeit a confused understanding- was starting to dawn on her. “Not for humans it isn’t. Menopause doesn’t mean our life is ending. Watch me, I’m just getting started.”

Grth'x stopped chanting at looked at Sarah with a confused exression that matched Chizzik’s own. “What is Menno-Paws?

Sarah stared at her two friends and sighed with resignation. This was going to be one of those things that would end up in the human guide book, she just knew it.