The average age to reach the menopause in the UK is 51, but this can vary widely. The age at which menopause symptoms stop depends on how old you were when menopause began. Former smokers have a slight chance of experiencing menopause early, but this decreases the longer youve gone without smoking. One year without a menstrual period defines menopause. The menopause age range is between 40 and 58 basically, if it were a person, it would be old enough to vote. And if your mother smoked or had a condition that generally brings menopause forward (more on this later), your period will probably stick around for longer than hers did. The menopausal transition can last between four to eight years, sometimes longer. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. Menopause is strongly genetically linked, so youre very likely to fall within a few years either way of the age your mother was at menopause, says Nanette Santoro, MD, director of the division of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the University of Colorado-Denver School of Medicine. Factors associated with menstrual cycle irregularity and menopause. However, low and moderate alcohol consumption is associated with later menopause compared to non-drinkers. Before you experience menopause, youll go through a transitional period, known as perimenopause. However, nutrition higher in trans fat (e.g. DOI: Gold E. (2011). American Cancer Society. Alcohol, caffeine and smoking in relation to age at menopause. Radiation to the pelvic area can cause the ovaries to stop working, leading to sudden menopause. And its often the question women pose to their ob-gyn when they begin to notice changes in their monthly period or have their first hot flash. For each range, there are lifestyle considerations that can help you make good decisions for your future health. If you experience menopause between ages 40 and 45, youre said to have early menopause. She already had two children, so the deep feeling of loss after her. Follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH levels): FSH is a protein made by the brain that tells the ovaries it's time for ovulation. Women.". You may like to adjust your answers in the Menopause Age Calculator to see how different lifestyle choices can impact your estimated age range of menopause. It would be helpful for every woman to know exactly when menopause will arrive. On average, menopause begins around age 52. ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/MenopauseatAge55orOlder.html, menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/menopause-symptoms-and-treatments/are-we-there-yet-navigate-now-with-our-guided-menopause-tour, womenshealth.gov/menopause/early-or-premature-menopause, mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20353397, womenshealth.gov/menopause/menopause-basics, Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, No One Warned Me About the Grief That Comes With a Hysterectomy, Michelle Obama and Menopause Symptoms: How She Fought Weight Gain and Hot Flashes. Bae J, Park S, Kwon JW. During perimenopause, estrogen declines, which can cause a variety of symptoms. Date accessed online: Web. 2011;38(3):425-440. doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2011.05.002. Research has suggested that your diet can affect the age of menopause, too. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Dalal P, Agarwal M. Postmenopausal syndrome. 2022, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1028455917301444, Dunneram Y, Greenwood DC, Burley VJ, Cade JE. 2010;20(5):370-376. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There is still a lot more work to be done on studying the effects of fibre, phytoestrogens, fat and protein on the age of menopause. Most studies of the menopausal transition have been cross-sectional (data collected at a set point in time) rather than longitudinal (data collected over an extended time). American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Family history and genetic factors play a role in when you may begin menopause and may also predict which symptoms you will experience. This test helps determine whether you will soon be entering menopause or if you already have. And its hard to pinpoint the average age when perimenopause begins because everyone experiences those symptoms differently. The other 50% is influenced by physiological and lifestyle factors. The authors found that perimenopause lasted longer in women who started the transition at a younger age, and the women had more symptoms, such as hot flashes. The age when you reach menopause is down to a complicated mix of your genes, lifestyle, and medical history. Ive developed an online program using evidence-based interventions for the key lifestyle factors that influence your hormonal health, which are: My Midlife Hormones Program also includes one-to-one coaching support and access to our community, where you can connect with other women going through this stage of life. Cancer treatment - early menopause. Dietary intake and age at natural menopause: results from the UK Womens Cohort Study. 2013;5(Suppl 1):S55-S61. Fatigue, poor sleep and feeling more stressed or anxious often follows. It means when you last have your Periods to the further 12 months. Participants approaching menopause reported higher consumption of alcohol, leading researchers to wonder if an uptick in drinking was a clue that the change was coming. Counter to Menopause In addition, the cycle day counter for your current menstrual cycle will show you if you are nearing menopause. Here's what does -- and does not influence the age at when a woman reaches menopause. My periods have changed. This study is important because it investigates the cumulative impact of intergenerational violence on reproductive aging, says Faubion. Please log in again. Health Benefits, Food Sources, Supplements, Types, and More, Menopause and Your Heart: Q&A With Dr. Harmony Reynolds, Severe Menopause Symptoms Linked to Risk of Heart Disease, Study Finds, 7 Ways to Cope with Menopausal Hot Flashes and Night Sweats Naturally, What Midlife Women Should Know About Intermittent Fasting, Hot Flashes at Work? Streicher confirms this, saying, Fertility and menopause are not the same thing; there are plenty of women who are pumping outestrogen and menstruating and are not fertile. If youre sexually active, its important to consult with your doctor before making any decisions about birth control to avoid unwanted pregnancy. But some women experience menopause in their 40s - with a small percentage experiencing signs of menopause earlier. Premature and early menopause. Bone density tests do not indicate menopause. For the past 10 years she has been Editor-in-Chief of Women and Health, a scientific journal focusing on womens health and gender differences in health and disease. We recommend you always seek advice from your health provider or doctor if you have specific questions. Perimenopause is the stage when a woman begins to transition into menopause. The average age for menopause in the United States is 51, according to the Mayo Clinic. Menopause is a natural part of aging. 20 Apr. I have sleep difficulties Never Often Always critical factors influencing the age of menopause, naturally support your body through the menopause transition, how my program can help you manage menopause naturally, The Timing of the Age at Which Natural Menopause Occurs (2012), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5801702/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5558404/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4666866/, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1028455917301444, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3285482/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6983294/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16260101/, https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-7-149, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3197715/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3955043/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3717046/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2856641/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3900831/, https://academic.oup.com/humupd/article/22/4/516/2573866, Reduced risk of cardiovascular and heart disease, Lower bone density loss and risk of osteoporosis. Please enter a valid email address. The average age of menopause for people in the United States is 52. Your family history, medical conditions, and hormones all play a role in when menopause is likely to occur for you. Because pregnancy puts menstruation and ovulation on pause, its been theorized that a high number of pregnancies may delay menopause, but the findings of a Norwegian study published in Human Reproductionin February 2020belie that assumption. I have hot flashes or night sweats Never Often Always 3. Your age in total number of days is calculated as: Number of years, x, with 365 days = 365x plus. Many women are surprised when they go through menopause in their forties because they think theyre too young, but its not unusual, says Dr. Streicher. Here is what you might be able to expect at different ages and stages. Its time to rethink your lifestyle choices. Dietary intake and age at natural menopause: Results from the UK Womens Cohort Study. Your hormone levels change during perimenopause. Drug and nondrug treatments for hair loss and hair thinning around menopause were presented at NAMS 2021. However, if your periods resume, you have not yet entered menopause. Strengthen your pelvic floor. If she smoked and you dont, you probably reach menopause later than she did. Beyond recognizing and addressing issues such as increased cardiovascular disease risk and risks related to bone health, if a woman knows her age of menopause and how long the perimenopause transition will last, it could help her make important health decisions, says Faubion. Menopause is defined as 12 concurrent months without having a menstrual cycle. Next review due July 2025. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Gold, M.A., Ph.D. for her article, The Timing of the Age at Which Natural Menopause Occurs (2012). Heavy, higher-risk drinking is associated with higher levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), damaging ovarian follicles (eggs) and increasing the chance of going through menopause earlier. 10 Reasons and What to Do, The North American Menopause Society recommendations for clinical care of midlife women, Female age-related fertility decline. The authors concluded that the results question the assumption that interrupted ovulation during pregnancy delays menopause.. Studies have found that smoking during the reproductive years was significantly associated with earlier menopause. 2021. They found that there are factors that do seem predictive of when a woman will approach menopause, such as higherestradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, which weve known for a while," says Streicher. Certain factors may affect when you begin menopause. After analyzing data on close to 300,000 women, investigators found that women with three childbirths had the highest average age at menopause, at 51.36 years old, and that women who had never given birth had the lowest, at an average of 50.55 years of age. In the absence of a crystal ball or a definitive menopause age chart, your genetics might be the most helpful tool you have for predicting when your periods will check out for good. During premature menopause you may experience: If you experience any of these symptoms, its essential to talk to your doctor. The harmful chemicals in cigarettes can damage your ovaries and bring menopause forward by an average of 13 years. The menopausal transition can last between four to eight years, sometimes longer. Chemotherapy or radiotherapy patients often go through temporary menopause. You can adjust your answers in the calculator to see how different lifestyle choices may impact your estimated age range of menopause. The timing of the age at which natural menopause occurs. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. The risk of menopause depends on the type of chemotherapy a person receives and the dose that is given. You cant postpone or predict menopause, but you can identify the things that might make it earlier. Can I Change My Predicted Age Of Menopause? Date accessed online: Web. More research is needed to confirm these findings, especially studies that separately evaluate women with a usual cycle length of fewer than 21 days, according to the authors. 2014;5(1):3-5. Technically it is not the loss of eggs that lead to the end of menstrual periods, it is the fact your ovaries produce drastically less estrogen and progesterone the two hormones that control menstruation. Cigarette smoking and age of menopause: a large prospective study. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Human Reproduction Update. The combination of your genetic, physiological and lifestyle factors has been used to estimate the age at which youll reach menopause i.e. While the average age of menopause is 52, there is a vast range of what is considered normal for when menopause could begin. You hit the official age of menopause when you havent had a period for a calendar year. Looking after yourself doesnt have to be hard or complicated. In the time leading up to menopause (perimenopause), you may have irregular periods or skip periods entirely. Read on. Late natural menopause was seen in women with menstrual cycle lengths of 33 days or longer [ 6 ]. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. By starting with easier changes first, youll feel better quickly. If you experience menopause between ages 40 and 45, you're said to have early menopause. All rights reserved. Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment, What Are Menopausal Hot Flashes? Whenever perimenopause begins for you, were in this together. However, they are used to monitor and screen postmenopausal people for osteoporosis, which weakens the bones. One new finding concerned alcohol consumption. Most of the time, the cause of POI is unknown. It will be easier and easier to add more changes as you feel better. So accurately predicting things is not always so easy. National Library of Medicine. It uses your self-reported genetic, physiological and lifestyle factors (Gold., 2011) and applies a formula informed by the most recent online research (see critical factors influencing the age of menopause and how the calculator works). When it comes to the menopause transition, whats the normal age, and more importantly, why does it matter? Date accessed online: Web. Astudy published in January 2020 in JAMA Network Open found thatpregnancy and breastfeeding may reduce the risk of early menopause. Some dont need any treatment to relieve or manage their symptoms, while others who have more severe symptoms do need treatment. Are you ready to feel and look like yourself again? Relationship between alcohol consumption and age at menopause: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The average age the first. Read each question carefully and answer as truthfully as possible. Women Who Reach Menopause Before Age 40 Face Higher Risk for Future Heart Disease, What Are Menopause and Menopausal Transition? Theres no definitive menopause age calculator, but there are some things that can predict whether youll reach menopause early. Menopause is when your periods stop due to lower hormone levels. Menopause is defined as going one year without a period. For example, diet, physical activity, and stress. PLoS One, "Persistent Organic Pollutants and Early Menopause in U.S. Unfortunately, it's not yet possible to plug your data into a menopause age calculator and find out when you'll go through it. How radiation therapy can affect the sex life of females with cancer, Irregular menstrual cycles leading up to your last period. Experiencing menopause at 40 to 45 years of age is called early menopause, and that occurs in about 5 to 7 percent of the population, so its safe to say that at least 7 percent of women are going to go through menopause early or prematurely, says Faubion. These factors have a significant impact on our health, hormones and wellbeing. Fluctuating estrogen and progesterone levels create physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms, impacting our relationships, work, and social life. There are three phases of menopause: perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. There are many negative health consequences linked to early menopause, including a higherrisk of osteoporosis and fracture, heart disease, cognitive impairment and dementia, and early death, says Dr. Faubion. Blood levels of FSH will increase as a person's ovaries begin to shut down. There is no way to restore the ovaries function, but there are ways to treat the symptoms of POI. Note: A special thank you to Ellen B. But women who had had more than three childbirths didnt go through the menopause transition later, which is what would be expected if pregnancies truly delay menopause, according to the researchers. But, if youd rather know for sure, your doctor can confirm whether youre in perimenopause. Your mother's age at menopause is a key factor, but not the only one. . Symptoms of premature menopause are the same as those that occur during menopause. The Period Calculator estimates period days and the most probable ovulation days in calendar form. Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In our forties, most women will begin noticing symptoms. One such study, published online in April 2021 inMenopause, the journal of NAMS, looked at several aspects of womens health and lifestyle, while also controlling for different variables in an attempt to zero in on what could be influencing the timing of the transition. Theres a lot of truth in that. 2022, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5558404/, Choi BO, Lee YJ, Choi JH, Cho SW, Im HJ, An JE. What matters, and what doesn't, when trying to predict when you'll reach menopause. Published ahead of print. Estradiol levels: Estradiol is the main form of estrogen found in a person before menopause. Unfortunately, its not yet possible to plug your data into a menopause age calculator and find out when youll go through it. Creating one new healthy habit at a time will make a big difference long term. Genetic variants predictive of reproductive aging are associated with vasomotor symptoms in a multiracial/ethnic cohort. Most women go through menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can happen anytime between 40 and 60. People in postmenopause are at increased risk for osteoporosis and heart disease. POI is not the same as premature menopause; people with POI may still get occasional periods and may even become pregnant. Many people confuse menopause with perimenopause. Natural menopause is when you stop producing functional eggs. J Midlife Health. Depending on your family medical history, though, there are a lot of exceptions to this rule. Is it Menopause? Premature or early menopause can occur at any age and, in many cases, there's no clear cause. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. During this stage, menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, get milder or go away. Fertility begins to decrease around age 32, then more rapidly at age 37. The association between stress level in daily life and age at natural menopause in Korean women: outcomes of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2010-2012.