For women approaching menopause, it’s natural to wonder how long this phase of life will last — weeks, months, or even years. The duration of menopause can vary. Understanding how long it may last can help women feel more at ease as they progress through each menopausal stage. This article will explore different factors that may influence the length of menopause and share tools to help women easily keep track of their symptoms over time.
Menopause Age and Its Stages
Menopause – or the menopause transition – is often used as an all-encompassing term that includes the following three stages:
Perimenopause
Menopause
Postmenopause
Perimenopause
The first stage is perimenopause, or the start of the menopause transition. This is when the body begins to experience hormonal changes, including fluctuations in levels of estrogen and progesterone. Perimenopause starts when a woman gets their first irregular period and lasts until 12 consecutive months have passed without menstruation. This stage is further broken up into the early and late perimenopause stages. Most women enter perimenopause in their mid-40s. The menopause transition may last anywhere from two to eight years, although some research suggests a longer duration of five to 10 years.(1)(2)(3)
Menopause
Menopause is a life event. It’s the moment in a woman’s life when one year has passed without a menstrual period. According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force hormone therapy recommendation statement published in JAMA, most women in the United States reach menopause at approximately 51 years of age. While menopause is broadly categorized as its own stage, it’s actually a finite point that women reach. Therefore, menopause itself doesn’t last for a certain amount of time. Once a woman experiences menopause, they are considered postmenopausal.(4)
Postmenopause
Once a woman has had her final menstrual period, and this is confirmed by 12 consecutive months with no period, she’s officially in the postmenopause stage. In the same way that perimenopause is divided into early and late stages, so is postmenopause. The remainder of a woman’s life is spent in postmenopause, which can span over 30 years.(4)
Overlapping Menopausal Stages
The start of one menopausal stage and the end of another can occur at the same time. The late perimenopause stage includes the 12 months after a woman has had their last period. This timeframe is also part of the early postmenopause stage.(3)
How long does menopause last?
Stage | Average Age of Onset | Average Duration | Key Takeaway |
Perimenopause | Mid-40s | 4 years | The longest phase and start of symptoms |
Menopause | Around age 51 | A point reached | A life event that occurs when a woman has gone one year without a period |
Postmenopause | Age at which menstruation stops | The rest of a woman’s life | Symptoms typically lessen and long-term health becomes increasingly important |
Experts at the Office on Women’s Health state that the average duration of the menopause transition is four years.(2) However, women may be in perimenopause for different lengths of time depending on certain factors. For example, the age at which a woman starts the menopause transition may influence how long it lasts. Smoking, diet, exercise, body mass index (BMI), and certain medical issues can all affect menopause onset. Genetics and socioeconomic factors may also play a role.(5)
Researchers from a study published in Menopause found that women who start menopause at a later age may spend less time in the menopause transition compared to those who enter menopause at an earlier age. The study also found that women who smoke tend to enter the menopause transition at an earlier age but experience a shorter menopause duration. The research findings also suggest that the menopause transition may last longer for African American women compared to white women.(6)
Symptom Duration and Severity
Women may experience symptoms of varying duration and severity during different stages of menopause. The following are common menopausal symptoms and how long they may last as women age:
Irregular Periods
Changes in the menstrual cycle are common during perimenopause. Women may experience more mild changes in the early perimenopause stage, such as the occasional missed period. During the late perimenopause stage, women may go 60 days or more without a period. Menstrual cycle irregularities usually last until a woman eventually has her final menstrual period.(7)
Hot Flashes
Hot flashes are sudden sensations of heat felt in the upper body. They usually last between three and four minutes and may involve excessive sweating. Hot flashes may become more severe during the late perimenopause stage.(3)(4)
Women may experience hot flashes, night sweats, and other vasomotor symptoms for anywhere from one to six years. However, research suggests that approximately 10% to 15% of postmenopausal women may be affected for up to 15 years. Hot flash duration may be longer for African American women, women with a high BMI, and women who begin experiencing hot flashes earlier in perimenopause.(1)(4)(7)
Migraines
Some women experience migraines during the menopause transition. Symptoms may be more intense during perimenopause and last until a woman reaches postmenopause. While some women may continue to experience symptoms post-menopause, hormone levels settle at a new low during this stage. As a result, many women report a reduction in migraine symptoms.(4)
Cognitive Decline
Problems with memory can develop during the menopause transition, sometimes referred to as brain fog. Women may first notice cognitive changes during the perimenopause stage, which may continue into the postmenopause stage.(4)
Vaginal Dryness
Vaginal dryness is a symptom of what’s known as genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). While other menopausal symptoms may lessen during a woman’s postmenopausal years, vaginal dryness often persists without treatment.(7)
Mood Swings and Psychological Changes
Perimenopausal women may be more susceptible to depressive symptoms, with the risk of major depression found to be higher during the late perimenopause stage. However, research shows that prevalence rates for depressive symptoms tend to decline as women progress through different stages of menopause.(7)
Menopause After Surgery
If a woman has both of her ovaries surgically removed, the lack of estrogen immediately puts the body into postmenopause. This procedure is called a bilateral oophorectomy and may be performed at the same time as a hysterectomy, which involves the surgical removal of the uterus. Unlike the gradual process of natural menopause, the onset of surgical menopause is immediate. If the ovaries are not removed during a hysterectomy, or only one is removed, women may still reach natural menopause, but possibly at an earlier age.(8)
What happens after menopause?
Life after menopause can involve various physical and emotional changes, including the following:
Improvement in Symptoms
Hormone levels stabilize after menopause. Estrogen levels remain at a new low, while levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) — another hormone involved in sexual development — stay elevated during the early postmenopause stage before eventually stabilizing. As a result, women may experience a reduction in symptoms after menopause.(4)
Feelings of Relief
Some postmenopausal women may feel less stressed and more empowered in their sexuality without the risk of pregnancy. Some may also experience an increase in libido during this phase of life.
Increased Urogenital Issues
Along with vaginal dryness, other symptoms of GSM may persist or worsen during the postmenopause stage. Hormonal fluctuations cause physiological shifts in the vagina and bladder. This includes a rise in vaginal pH levels, thinning of the labia, and changes in the size of the vagina. As estrogen levels fall, some postmenopausal women may experience recurrent urinary tract infections or pain during sex.(4)(9)(10)
Increased Risk of Osteoporosis
Bone loss occurs more rapidly during menopause. This can make postmenopausal women more vulnerable to osteoporosis. Staying physically active and maintaining a healthy diet rich in calcium and vitamin D is critical as women age.(1)(4)
Tools and Resources to Track Menopause Duration
Women can take control of their health by tracking their own menopause duration. Various tools and mobile apps can help make symptom tracking simple and efficient.
In a study of women’s personal experiences using different menopause apps, one of the primary uses reported was tracking the severity and duration of symptoms. Women felt that this feature helped them recognize symptom patterns and better communicate with their healthcare providers about potentially starting hormone replacement therapy (HRT).(11)
Looking for help tracking menopause duration? Download Winona’s Ultimate Menopause Tracking Guide to easily monitor symptoms, menstrual periods, and HRT progress. The Menopause Society also offers a variety of tracking charts in their MenoNotes library.
Will menopause ever end?
The question of whether menopause ever ends is nuanced. While women remain in the postmenopause stage for the rest of their lives, menopausal symptoms often improve over time or may come to an end altogether. However, it’s important to talk to a doctor if symptoms are interfering with everyday life. HRT can help relieve symptoms by supplementing low levels of estrogen and progesterone in the body. Treatment may also support women’s overall long-term health.