. Menopause occurs when a woman hasn’t menstruated in 12 consecutive
months and can no longer become pregnant naturally. It usually begins
between the ages of 45 and 55, but can develop before or after this
age range. Menopause can cause uncomfortable symptoms, such as hot
flashes and weight gain. For most women, medical treatment isn’t
needed for menopause.
Symptoms often continue until about four years after a woman’s last
period. A small number of women experience menopause symptoms for up
to a decade before menopause actually occurs, and 1 in 10 women
experience menopausal symptoms for 12 years following their last
period. The median age for menopause is 51, though it may occur on
average up to two years earlier for Black and Latina women. There are
many factors that help determine when you’ll begin menopause,
including genetics and ovary health. Perimenopause occurs before
menopause. Perimenopause is a time when your hormones begin to change
in preparation for menopause. Many women begin perimenopause some
point after their mid-40s. Other women skip perimenopause and enter
menopause suddenly. About 5 percent of women undergo menopause between
the ages of 40 and 45. This is referred to as early menopause.
What are the symptoms of menopause?
Every woman’s menopause experience is unique. Symptoms are usually
more severe when menopause occurs suddenly or over a shorter period of
time. Conditions that impact the health of the ovary, like cancer or
hysterectomy, or certain lifestyle choices, like smoking, tend to
increase the severity and duration of symptoms.
Other common symptoms of menopause include