What Age Does Menopause Start

Puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, menopause are the different stages of life that a woman experiences. A woman's body passes through different phases like pre-menopause and perimenopause before reaching the phase of menopause. What age does menopause start? Before taking a look at this answer, let us first take a look at how can a woman reach menopause age.

Menopause Age
After menarche (the first menstrual period, normally around the age of 12-15) it may take about 25-35 years for a woman to experience menopause naturally. Natural menopause age may vary from woman to woman depending upon several factors like geographical region where the woman lives, genetic disposition, women's health, diet, race, her individual biological clock, etc. Women with diseases or eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, excessive athletic conditioning, undernourishment, autoimmune disease, obesity or chronic stress may reach menopause at 'premature age'. Artificial menopause age is that age at which menopause is experienced as an effect of hysterectomy (surgical removal of uterus and/or ovaries), chemotherapy, drug abuse, excessive smoking or any other procedure disrupting the blood supply to the ovaries. The answer to the question 'what age does menopause start' depends mainly upon the health of the woman.

When does Menopause Start
How early does menopause start? In case of natural menopause, average age of menopause can be anywhere between 45-55. Menopause suggests end of the reproductive or menstrual cycle. Menopause is the phase of life after the last menstrual period. No menstruation for consecutive 12 months confirms menopause. In case of natural menopause, or premature menopause, majority of women often notice signs of menopause long before menopause actually sets in. Premenopause symptoms or perimenopause symptoms help confirm 'menopause'. FSH level test also helps confirm whether the symptoms observed are due to menopause or due to certain other factors. Normally, FSH level between 5-25 mIU/ml is noticed in menstruating women. During peri or premenopausal stage, FSH level can be higher than 25. A menopausal woman has FSH level around 50 mIU/ml. Learn more on FSH levels and menopause. These days, there are examples of women entering menopause at 35 years of age. So, it is necessary to know about menopause symptoms.

Pre-Menopause Symptoms
A gradual slow down of the menstrual cycle and hormonal changes result in

• Lowered production of sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone by the ovaries
• Unexpected weight gain, increased size of the waist, stomach or hips
• Noticeable premenstrual syndrome
• Infertility
• Increased irritability, depression
• Thin hair, hair loss
• Growth of fibroids
• Endometriosis
• Growth of facial hair
• Headaches
• Lower sex drive

Peri-Menopause Symptoms
A few years before menopause, a woman may experience following symptoms due to hormone imbalance.

• Irregularity in the menstrual cycle: short and frequent cycles or longer cycles
• Less or heavy bleeding during the periods
• Terrible mood swings, anxiety, depression
• Fibroid tumors
• Endometriosis
• Problem sleeping
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Absence of periods (amenorrhea)
• Increased heartbeat
• Loss of libido
• Vaginal dryness
• Panic, feeling of dread, irrational fear
• Difficulty concentrating, disorientation, mental confusion and fogging
• Unable to manage stress
• Breast tenderness, sore nipples
• Loss of fullness of breasts
• Water retention
• Bloating, indigestion
• Change in body odor
• Bladder problems

It is not necessary that every woman will exhibit the symptoms of premenopause or perimenopause. Some women may notice a few symptoms while some may not notice any of the above symptoms. Severity and type of symptoms experienced may vary from woman to woman. But knowing the signs of menopause is necessary to avoid confusion and health complications.

I hope this article has provided the required information regarding 'what age does menopause start'. The ovaries slow down the production of eggs during premenopause and they stop producing eggs after menopause. As a result, the woman cannot bear children anymore. Women should manage menopause symptoms skillfully. For this, they should consult a doctor.