Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMenopause OverviewHow Common is It?EthnicityAge & GenderCausesEarly DetectionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Menopause Overview
How Common is It?
Ethnicity
Age & Gender
Causes
Early Detection
Frequently Asked Questions
Menopauseis a normal part of aging for people who menstruate.The average age of menopause in the United States is 51.
This article will review basic facts about menopause—including how common it is, who gets it, and how likely it is to cause complications.
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Menopause is a natural biological process that marks the end ofmenstrual cycles. An individual is considered to be in menopause after 12 months without a menstrual period. Menopause comes with several changes in an individual’s health.
Menopause SymptomsCommon symptoms of menopause include:Irregular orabsent periodsHot flashesVaginal drynessSleep problemsNight sweatsWeight gainHair thinning
Menopause Symptoms
Common symptoms of menopause include:Irregular orabsent periodsHot flashesVaginal drynessSleep problemsNight sweatsWeight gainHair thinning
Common symptoms of menopause include:
How Common Is Menopause?
Menopause is a normal part of aging for women and those who menstruate. Everyone with a menstrual cycle will go through menopause during their lifetime.By 2025, it is estimated that there will be 1.1 billionpostmenopausalwomen worldwide.
Where you live may play a role in determining when you go through menopause. Studies show that people in developing countries may experience natural menopause earlier than those in developed countries. Also, people in urban areas have been found to go through menopause later than those in rural areas. Additionally, those living at higher altitudes experience menopause 12 to 18 months earlier than those at lower altitudes.
Menopause occurs in all individuals who menstruate. Although the average age of menopause onset in the United States is 51, the age of onset can range from 40 to 58.
Menopause occurs most often between the ages of 50 and 52. It’s estimated that 95% of people will have their final period between the ages of 44 and 56.
Individuals who go through menopause before age 40 are inearly menopause. It’s estimated that about 5% of people will go through early menopause. About 1% will experienceprimary ovarian insufficiency, a condition that causes early menopause.
Risk factors for early menopause include smoking and never having been pregnant.
Causes of Menopause
Common causes of menopause include:
Screening and Early Detection
Menopause is usually diagnosed with a thorough medical history and physical exam. Your healthcare provider will ask questions about your new symptoms and how long they have been occurring.
Tests are usually not needed to diagnose menopause but may include blood tests to measure:
During menopause, FSH increases, and estrogen decreases. A thyroid function test may be ordered becausehypothyroidismcan cause symptoms similar to menopause.
Summary
Frequently Asked QuestionsIn the United States, the average age of menopause onset is 51. This age can vary significantly from person to person, and the average age span is 40 to 58. Those who go through menopause before age 40 are in early menopause.Most individuals in menopause have experienced irregular menstrual periods for months to years before the onset of menopause. This time is known as perimenopause. Common symptoms of menopause include absent periods, hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, weight gain, and hair thinning.
In the United States, the average age of menopause onset is 51. This age can vary significantly from person to person, and the average age span is 40 to 58. Those who go through menopause before age 40 are in early menopause.
Most individuals in menopause have experienced irregular menstrual periods for months to years before the onset of menopause. This time is known as perimenopause. Common symptoms of menopause include absent periods, hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, weight gain, and hair thinning.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Menopause.Office on Women’s Health.Menopause.National Institute on Aging.What is menopause?Shifren J, Gass M.The North American menopause society recommendations for clinical care of midlife women.Menopause. 2014;21(10):1038-1062. doi:10.1097/gme.0000000000000319McKnight KK, Wellons MF, Sites CK, et al.Racial and regional differences in age at menopause in the United States: findings from the reasons for geographic and racial differences in stroke (REGARDS) study.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2011;205(4):353.e1-353.e3538. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2011.05.014Gold E.The timing of the age at which natural menopause occurs.Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2011;38(3):425-440. doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2011.05.002Yale Medicine.Menopause.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.The menopause years.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Menopause.Office on Women’s Health.Menopause.National Institute on Aging.What is menopause?Shifren J, Gass M.The North American menopause society recommendations for clinical care of midlife women.Menopause. 2014;21(10):1038-1062. doi:10.1097/gme.0000000000000319McKnight KK, Wellons MF, Sites CK, et al.Racial and regional differences in age at menopause in the United States: findings from the reasons for geographic and racial differences in stroke (REGARDS) study.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2011;205(4):353.e1-353.e3538. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2011.05.014Gold E.The timing of the age at which natural menopause occurs.Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2011;38(3):425-440. doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2011.05.002Yale Medicine.Menopause.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.The menopause years.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Menopause.Office on Women’s Health.Menopause.National Institute on Aging.What is menopause?Shifren J, Gass M.The North American menopause society recommendations for clinical care of midlife women.Menopause. 2014;21(10):1038-1062. doi:10.1097/gme.0000000000000319McKnight KK, Wellons MF, Sites CK, et al.Racial and regional differences in age at menopause in the United States: findings from the reasons for geographic and racial differences in stroke (REGARDS) study.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2011;205(4):353.e1-353.e3538. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2011.05.014Gold E.The timing of the age at which natural menopause occurs.Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2011;38(3):425-440. doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2011.05.002Yale Medicine.Menopause.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.The menopause years.
MedlinePlus.Menopause.
Office on Women’s Health.Menopause.
National Institute on Aging.What is menopause?
Shifren J, Gass M.The North American menopause society recommendations for clinical care of midlife women.Menopause. 2014;21(10):1038-1062. doi:10.1097/gme.0000000000000319
McKnight KK, Wellons MF, Sites CK, et al.Racial and regional differences in age at menopause in the United States: findings from the reasons for geographic and racial differences in stroke (REGARDS) study.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2011;205(4):353.e1-353.e3538. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2011.05.014
Gold E.The timing of the age at which natural menopause occurs.Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2011;38(3):425-440. doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2011.05.002
Yale Medicine.Menopause.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.The menopause years.
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