“The average age of menopause is 51.5 years,
with most women experiencing menopause
between the ages of 45 and 55 years”.1

Umbrella
What may the Menopause Age Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Menopause Age
  • Menopause Average Age

Age

When do women reach menopause?

In Managing Menopause: Don’t Let Symptoms of Menopause Reduce Your Quality of Life – When Is Menopause? the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) elaborate on:

“When you reach menopause may be influenced by the age you had your first period, the age your mother underwent menopause, or the length of your menstrual cycle; women with shorter, more frequent cycles may reach menopause earlier”.2

Mother’s Age

Do women enter menopause around the same age as their mothers?

In Genetics Play Strong Role In Determining Age of Menopause and Overall Longevity the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) report:

“If you’re wondering why you entered menopause earlier or later than other women, blame your mother. That’s because numerous studies have confirmed the role of genetics in determining a woman’s age at menopause”.3

Average Age

What is the average age of menopause?

The International Menopause Society (IMS) explain:

“The average age of menopause is 51.5 years, with most women experiencing menopause between the ages of 45 and 55 years”.4

United States

In the United States, what is the average age of menopause?

According to the (United States) Mayo Clinic in Menopause: Symptoms & Causes – Overview:

“Menopause can happen in your 40s or 50s, but the average age is 51 in the United States”.5

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom (UK), what is the average age of menopause?

According to the (United Kingdom) NHS in Menopause: Overview:

  • “Menopause is when your periods stop due to lower hormone levels. This usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55”.6

Australia

In Australia, what is the average age of menopause?

According to the Australasian Menopause Society in What Is Menopause? Key Points:

  • “The term “menopause” refers to the final menstrual period. The average age of menopause in Australian women is 51 years (normal range 45-55)”.7

Smoking

Is there an association between smoking and menopause?

In Looking After Yourself: Smoking and Other Drugs the JH note:

“Women who smoke generally reach menopause earlier than non-smokers. They are also more likely to experience early menopause.

Women who smoke also have more severe and frequent hot flushes and night sweats, and difficulty sleeping”.8

Race and Other Factors

Is there an association between race and other factors and menopause?

The NAMS note:

“No clear correlations have been found between age at menopause and race, age at first period, or use of birth control pills or fertility medications”.9

Early Menopause

What is early menopause?Menopause Age

DotS the definition of early menopause may vary. In Premature & Early Menopause the JH’s definition is:

“Early menopause is when your final period happens between the ages of 40 and 45”.10

Premature Menopause

What is premature menopause?Menopause Age

DotS the definition of premature menopause may vary. In Premature & Early Menopause the JH’s definition is:

“Premature menopause is when your final period happens before the age of 40 years”.11

Induced Menopause

What is induced menopause?

DotS the definition of induced menopause may vary. According to the IMS:

“Menopause occurs at a younger age when it is induced by surgical removal of the ovaries or by irradiation or chemotherapy used in cancer treatment”.12

Health Care Provider

What if would like help with menopause or to stop smoking?

If you would like help with menopause or to stop smoking, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. Together you can discuss your options and if required, agree on who may be the most appropriate health care provider to help you.

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Menopause Age?

In Health Topics A- you may find:

Links

Where may I find Links related to Menopause Age?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors In Breast Cancer. The International Menopause Society Comment on “Type and Timing of Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk: Individual Participant Meta-Analysis of the Worldwide Epidemiological Evidence”. 29 August 2019: 2. https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/ims-press-statement-2019-08-29-english.pdf Accessed: 06 January 2023
  2. Managing Menopause: Don’t Let Symptoms of Menopause Reduce Your Quality of Life – When Is Menopause? 02 October 2017. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/news/managing-menopause-dont-let-symptoms-of-menopause-reduce-your-quality-of-life Accessed: 06 January 2023
  3. Genetics Play Strong Role In Determining Age of Menopause and Overall Longevity. 12 June 2019. North American Menopause Society https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/190612110127.htm Accessed: 06 January 2023
  4. Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors In Breast Cancer. The International Menopause Society Comment on  “Type and Timing of Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk: Individual Participant Meta-Analysis of the Worldwide Epidemiological Evidence”. 29 August 2019: 2. https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/ims-press-statement-2019-08-29-english.pdf Accessed: 06 January 2023
  5. Menopause: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 17 December 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20353397 Accessed: 06 January 2023
  6. Menopause: Overview. Page Last Reviewed: 17 May 2022. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/ Accessed: 06 January 2023
  7. What Is Menopause? Key Points. Content Created May 2022. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/what-is-menopause Accessed: 06 January 2023
  8. Looking After Yourself: Smoking and Other Drugs. Last Updated: 03 October 2022 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2021. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/looking-after-yourself#smoking-and-other-drugs Accessed: 06 January 2023
  9. North American Menopause Society. Menopause Guidebook. 1 An Introduction To Menopause, 8th Edition 2015: 1
  10. Premature & Early Menopause. Last Updated: 08 September 2022 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/premature-early-menopause Accessed: 06 January 2023
  11. Premature & Early Menopause. Last Updated: 08 September 2022 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/premature-early-menopause Accessed: 06 January 2023
  12. Maintaining Health and Preventing Disease After the Menopause. 2014:2. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/wmd-2014-leaflet-english.pdf Accessed: 06 January 2023

Topic Last Updated: 19 February 2023 – Topic Last Reviewed: 06 January 2023
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