Age At The Onset Of Menopause

Typically, the age at the onset of menopause is said to be 51 or 52. This noted age is the most regular age at which menopause actually occurs. Keep in mind, however, that this average age of menopause onset applies only to those women actually in menopause, meaning they have not had a period for at least a year. This menopause onset age does not factor in perimenopause, which is the time of menopause symptoms onset. Typically, sudden onset menopause doesn’t occur, and it is instead a process which takes a long time, sometimes up to 15 years.

The onset of menopause symptoms often occurs when a woman is over 40, but early onset menopause can happen to women in their 30s. The menopause early onset symptoms will be the same as if the age at the onset of menopause is the average. These symptoms of early onset menopause can include acne, irregular and erratic periods, weight gain, hot flashes and mood swings. There are a variety of factors that can come into play that will affect the age at the onset of menopause. Depression medications cause early onset of menopause in some women, and there is also what is known as surgery menopause—menopause that occurs due to a surgery altering female organs.

A question commonly asked about menopause is, “can onset of menopause mimic pregnancy?” Although the onset of menopause and fertility effects are opposite than when pregnant, the symptoms of the onset of menopause can be quite similar to pregnancy symptoms. This is true no matter what the age at the onset of menopause, because hormones are fluctuating so drastically. Since the age at the onset of menopause varies in many women, and since perimenopause can last different amounts of time in different people, the experience will vary for each woman. However, even though the age at the onset of menopause will change, and whether it was a natural occurrence or induced by some outside factor, the symptoms are still the same. The hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, acne, irritability, anxiety, and depression will likely be experienced by all women to at least some degree. Management of these symptoms will often require hormone replacement therapy, and monitoring by your doctor will be necessary. Discuss with your doctor any problems, and if you feel like you need support during this trying time, turning to older female family members or a local support group can often help.