Menopause: Frequently Asked Questions
by Marilyn B. Green, MS, APRN, BC
Marilyn is certified by the North American Menopause Society as a Menopause Practitioner.
September 24, 2003
What is menopause?
Menopause is not a disease or an illness. It is a naturally occurring change in a woman's life. It marks a woman's transition from her child-bearing to her non-childbearing years.
When does menopause happen?
The average age of menopause in the United States is between 51 and 52. Most women experience menopause somewhere between the ages of 40 to 58. Some may even experience it as early as their 30's or as late as 60.
What about perimenopause?
Perimenopause is that period of time before a woman's last menstrual period to one year after her last menstrual period. It marks a period of time in a woman's life of declining ovarian function. It is characterized by irregular periods, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, difficulty sleeping and mood swings. These are all normal signs of perimenopause.
Do all women experience these changes?
No, women do not all experience the same changes. Some women barely notice the change, others find it interferes more with their daily life.
How long does it last?
Perimenopause or the menopause transition can last up to 6 years, but may also last less than 6 years.
Is there any way to tell when a woman will go through this transition?
Women often experience menopause around the same time as their mother or any sisters. The time for menopause is not related to when a woman first got her period or if she used oral contraceptives ("the pill").
However, current smoking has been identified as a cause of earlier menopause, by as much as 1.5 years.