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How Long will I be in Menopause?

By Shannon Kietzman
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 19,206
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Menopause is an event that happens in nearly every woman’s life. During this time, the woman’s ovaries stop making estrogen and the reproductive system begins to stop working. A woman may, however, still experience sporadic menstruation while going through the change.

In most women, menopause occurs as a natural part of the aging process. The average age for American women to begin is 50.5 years old, though it is possible to start at a younger age. In some women, it is caused by illnesses, disease, or surgical procedures such as hysterectomy.

The length of time it takes for a woman to complete the menopause cycle is unique to each woman. For the most part, it takes six months to five years to complete. In some women, the process may take even longer. To be medically regarded as having completed menopause, a woman must go for 12 consecutive months without menstruating.

While a woman goes through menopause, she experience many symptoms caused by the change in estrogen levels. Typical symptoms include hot flashes, heart palpitations, vaginal dryness, and increasingly frequent urination. Many women going through the change also experience emotional difficulties, such as mood swings, anxiety, depression, and a general irritable feeling. Some also have difficulty with concentration.

Some women experience premature menopause. For these women, the cycle begins before the age of 40. It is sometimes the result of cancer or some other disease that requires treatment with chemotherapy.

Other diseases that can lead to premature menopause include diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, and autoimmune disorders. In other women, it happens naturally for no known reason. Research has concluded, however, that twins have a higher incidence than the average population.

The symptoms of menopause and the length of the cycle do not change if a woman experiences it prematurely. However, the woman is at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis than post-menopausal women in general. This is particularly true for Caucasian women of European descent.

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Discussion Comments
By subway11 — On Mar 01, 2011

Comfyshoes - I have heard about that type of therapy. It also makes you feel more youthful and energetic. I know that there are many herbs for menopause.

Suzanne Somers has written a lot of books on the subject and is a strong proponent for herbal remedies for menopause as well as hormone replacement therapy.

She explains on her web site how a lack of Estradiol will cause weight gain in the midsection. She believes that by replacing this hormone with the exact amount lost not only would you lose weight but you would feel younger.

If you want to find a doctor that specializes in this form of treatment you can search the American Academy of Anti-Aging.

These doctors can provide remedies for female and male menopause symptoms in order to elevate your quality of life. Suzanne Somers is in her sixties and she looks great so she has to be doing something right.

By comfyshoes — On Feb 28, 2011

I just wanted to say that my sister was experiencing signs of menopause starting in her forties.

She was diagnosed with a hypothyroid that also contributed to the lower hormonal levels.

Doctors can do tests to see the level of estrogen in your body to determine if you are going through menopause.

The doctor confirmed that she was at age 45. She was developing the classic signs of menopause which were the hot flashes and the mood swings along with weight gain.

She became very tired and irritable. She finally went to a doctor that offered her hormone replacement therapy in order to restore her hormonal levels to a normal amount.

This type of therapy is not for everyone because some women who have a history of breast or ovarian cancer cannot receive hormone replacement therapy because it raises their already higher risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer because these diseases are very sensitive to hormonal changes in the body.

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