From the Guidelines
The average age of menopause is 51 years, with most women experiencing natural menopause between ages 45 and 55, as reported in the study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine 1. Perimenopause (often called premenopause) typically begins 4-8 years before menopause, with the average onset occurring in a woman's mid-40s, often between ages 42-45. During perimenopause, the body gradually produces less estrogen and progesterone, leading to irregular menstrual cycles and symptoms like hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and mood changes. The transition is considered complete when a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, marking the official onset of menopause. These age ranges represent averages, and individual experiences vary widely based on genetics, lifestyle factors, medical conditions, and certain treatments. Some women may experience early menopause (before age 45) or premature menopause (before age 40) due to genetic factors, autoimmune disorders, smoking, or medical interventions like chemotherapy or surgical removal of the ovaries. Key points to consider:
- The median age of menopause in women in the United States is 51 years (range, 41 to 59 years) 1.
- Ovarian production of estrogen and progestin begins to decrease years before the complete cessation of menses 1.
- The average woman in the United States who reaches menopause has a life expectancy of nearly 30 years 1.
- The probability that a menopausal woman will develop various chronic diseases over her lifetime has been estimated to be 46% for CHD, 20% for stroke, 15% for hip fracture, 10% for breast cancer, and 2.6% for endometrial cancer 1. Based on the most recent and highest quality study, the average age of menopause is 51 years, and perimenopause typically begins 4-8 years before menopause, with the average onset occurring in a woman's mid-40s 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The HOPE study was a double-blind, randomized, placebo/active-drug-controlled, multicenter study of healthy postmenopausal women with an intact uterus. Subjects (mean age 53. 3 ± 4.9 years) were 2.3 ± 0.9 years on average since menopause
The average age of menopause is not directly stated, but the average time since menopause is 2.3 years, and the average age of the postmenopausal women in the study is 53.3 years.
- The average age of the women in the study is 53.3 years. There is no information about the average age of perimenopause. 2
From the Research
Average Ages of Menopause and Perimenopause
- The average age of menopause is 51 years, as reported in studies 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
- The average age of perimenopause is not explicitly stated in the provided studies, but it is described as the transitional period preceding menopause 6.
- Early menopause, which occurs between the ages of 40 and 44 years, affects around 8% of women in high-income countries and 12% of women globally 5.
- Premature menopause, also known as premature ovarian insufficiency, occurs before the age of 40 years and affects 2-4% of women 5.
- The age range for menopause can vary, with some women experiencing late menopause as late as 62 years of age 7.
Factors Influencing Menopause Age
- Genetic variants are known to contribute to approximately 50% of the variation in age at menopause 7.
- Genome-wide association studies have identified several genetic variants associated with menopause and premature ovarian insufficiency, involving genes related to DNA repair and maintenance, as well as immune function 7.
- Reproductive performance, age at menopause, and longevity are interlinked through common genetic factors involved in DNA repair and maintenance 7.