Who Is Affected by Menopause
Menopause is the milestone in every
woman's life that marks the end of her reproductive years. Most (95%) of all
women begin the transition to menopause (perimenopause)
between ages 39 and 51. On average, women start perimenopause around age 46,
with an average of 5 years until menstruation ends. After 1 year of no
menstrual periods, a woman is said to have reached menopause.
- The average age of menopause is between 50 and
51. In 95% of all women, it occurs between the ages of 44 and 56.1
- Menopause before the age of 40 (spontaneous
premature menopause) is rare.1
- Genetic factors can be a strong
predictor of when menopause will occur. If your mother had an early or late
menopause, you probably will also.1
- Cigarette smokers experience menopause an average
of 1.5 years earlier than non-smokers.1
- Women living at high altitudes experience an
earlier menopause.1
Menopause can also be caused by surgical removal of the
ovaries, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy to the abdomen or pelvis.
Citations
- Speroff L, Fritz MA (2005). Menopause and the
perimenopausal transition. In Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility, 7th ed., pp. 621–688. Philadelphia:
Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
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| Primary Medical Reviewer | Brian D. O'Brien, MD - Internal Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Carla J. Herman, MD, MPH - Geriatric Medicine |
|---|
| Last Revised | June 30, 2010 |
|---|
Last Revised:
June 30, 2010
Speroff L, Fritz MA (2005). Menopause and the
perimenopausal transition. In Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility, 7th ed., pp. 621–688. Philadelphia:
Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
