How Long Does Menopause Last? Your Trusted Guide to Menopause and Perimenopause

Menopause is often referred to as "the change of life" and is a normal part of aging for women. Menopause is a time when ovaries stop working to create eggs and produce hormones like progesterone and estrogen, causing a decline in both. This change marks the end of a woman's reproductive years, meaning that once you enter menopause, you are unable to conceive and your menstrual cycle ends.

How long does menopause last?

Menopause typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can begin much earlier for some women. On average, menopause lasts about seven years. The average age of menopause is 51

When does perimenopause start?

Menopause has three main stages, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). They are perimenopause, menopause and postmenopausal.

Perimenopause is a transition period leading up to menopause. The age at which it starts can vary, but most women enter perimenopause m their mid-40s.

For some, it can begin as early as their mid-to-late 30s. Others may not experience perimenopause until their late 40s or early 50s.

What are the symptoms of perimenopause?

The most common perimenopausal symptoms include:

• Irregular periods
• Hot flashes
• Mood changes
• Weight gain
• Insomnia
• Night sweats
• Low libido
• Sleep issues
• Brain fog
• Memory issues
• Difficulty concentrating
• Joint pain

Because of lower estrogen production, weigh, gain is possible, and some women even lose muscle mass during this time.

Insomnia can also be an issue for perimenopausal and menopausal women. According to the National Institutes of Health, 40% to 60% of menopausal women report experiencing trouble sleeping during this transition.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) risks are also higher for women in menopause, due mainly to lower estrogen levels and changes in the vaginal tissue. Decreased estrogen also impacts the vaginal microbiome.

It is not possible to predict when someone will experience menopause, although the average age in the United States is 51. There are associations between the age at menopause and certain demographics, health and genetic factors, however. And some research shows that Black women are more likely to experience earlier onset of menopause and may even have more severe symptoms.

How long does perimenopause last?

On average, perimenopause last about four years. However, like the beginning age, the duration can vary greatly from woman to woman, ranging from 2 to 10 years.

Even though menstrual cycles are unpredictable, and hormone levels are declining, it's still possible for a woman in perimenopause to get pregnant.

A woman is considered to have reached the second stage (known as menopause) after not having a period for 12 months. Menopause is a point in time when ovaries are no longer releasing eggs and estrogen production has virtually ended.

The postmenopausal stage is when "the change" is complete, although some women may continue to experience symptoms like hot flashes during this time.

Can a woman get pregnant during menopause?

A woman cannot get pregnant after the point in time she completes the perimenopause stage and reaches menopause, which comes after not having a period for 12 months. However, it's important to remember that perimenopausal women can become pregnant despite erratic menstrual cycles and slumping hormone levels.

The pregnancy rate for women in their 40s, many of whom are perimenopausal, is significantly lower than in younger years, dropping to less than 10% per cycle.

Pregnancy becomes less likely during this stage, but it remains possibility until a woman's periods have ceased for one year and a doctor has confirmed she has reached menopause.

When does menopause end?

Postmenopausal is the stage that follows menopause and lasts for the rest of a woman's life. For most women, the symptoms experienced during perimenopause will subside gradually in post menopause.

However, less estrogen can lead to other issues for postmenopausal women and puts them at greater risk for osteoporosis, heart disease and other health conditions.

What causes menopause?

Menopause is primarily caused by age. It is a natural biological process that occurs when a woman's ovaries stop producing reproductive hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, and no longer release eggs. This marks the end of a woman's reproductive years.

While menopause is not a disease, it is a significant life transition that every woman experiences as part of the aging process. More than 6000 women reach menopause every day.

Find support before, during and after menopause with Ochsner's Menopause and Women's Wellness Center at Ochsner Baptist.