World Fertility Survey (WFS) data from Nigeria and Cameroon are used to examine the practice of permanent sexual abstinence in relation to menopause status to test the assumption that terminal abstinence may represent a “cultural menopause.” Terminal abstinence is also examined in relation to cumulative fertility to determine if the cultural practice of abstinence at the biological end of reproductive life affects lifetime fertility. Among married, not pregnant women ages 31–49, the frequency of terminal abstinence is 4.3% in Nigeria and 4.6% in Cameroon. The frequency of terminal abstinence increases with age. Using probit analysis, the median age at menopause precedes the median age at terminal abstinence. Chi-square tests indicate significant relationships between terminal abstinence and menopausal status, although the relationships are country specific. Women in Nigeria who report terminal abstinence are more likely to be pre-menopausal, while in Cameroon terminally abstinent women are more likely to be post-menopausal. ANOVA and t-tests demonstrate no significant relationship between terminal abstinence and cumulative fertility, although there are significant relationship between terminal abstinence and number of miscarriages, religion, education (in Cameroon), and having grandchildren through sons (in Nigeria). The timing of terminal abstinence is considered in relation to various time scales: chronological age, family stage, and reproductive stage. In Nigeria the scale of family stage appears to be important in determining the timing of terminal abstinence, while in Cameroon the scale is more likely to be gynecological.