Menopause is reached when you have not had a period for 12 months, but the symptoms around it can last for years. The NHS puts this at 7 to 9 years for most women, and longer for some. Perimenopause, the stage before menopause, lasts a few years for most women.
What Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause Mean
Perimenopause is when your periods become irregular, and menopause is when they stop altogether. After that, we call it postmenopause.
Menopause is caused by a fall in hormone levels and affects most women between 45 and 55, but it can happen earlier. In the UK, the average age to reach menopause is 51. Early menopause is when you stop having regular periods before the age of 45, and premature menopause is when this happens before the age of 40.
How Long Does Perimenopause Last?
The Menopause Charity states that perimenopause lasts four years on average, although for some women it lasts a few months and for others several years. It ends 12 months after your last period, when you have reached menopause.
How Long Do Menopause Symptoms Last?
Symptoms can begin months or even years before your periods stop and can last for years after. Figures from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) show that one in five women have symptoms for up to 15 years.
One large US study, the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), looked at how long frequent hot flushes and night sweats last. It found that they lasted a median (the middle figure) of 7.4 years in total, and carried on for a median of 4.5 years after the final period.
Hot flushes may give way to other symptoms such as low mood and anxiety. Some symptoms can continue after menopause, such as joint pain and vaginal dryness.
What Affects How Long Symptoms Last
The length and severity of symptoms vary markedly between people. The same US study linked longer hot flushes and night sweats to these factors, measured when they first began:
- A younger age
- Greater stress
- More depressive symptoms and anxiety
Women who were already postmenopausal when their hot flushes began had the shortest total duration, with a median of 3.4 years. Ethnic background can also affect how long symptoms last, and women from a Black ethnic background are more likely to have hot flushes that are severe and continue longer.
Your Health After Menopause
After menopause, lower levels of oestrogen in your body increase your risk of heart disease. Lower oestrogen also increases your risk of osteoporosis, which means weak bones that may break more easily.
Get Menopause Support at Meyer Clinic
We provide hormonal support to women throughout every life stage, including perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. You will see Dr Annelize Meyer, In-person appointments are available.
Patients can self-refer and book directly, with no referral needed. To book, call 01243 771455 or book online. To ask a question, use our online enquiry form.
