The physical changes associated with menopause may begin as early as your 30s or as late as your 50s. Missed or irregular periods, hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and weight fluctuations are common during this transition.

The formal criterion to say you have reached menopause is missing your period for 12 consecutive months. The time immediately before leading to this stage is known as perimenopause, and the time after this stage is known as postmenopause.

This transition toward menopause may take about 7 years, but it can last as long as 14 years for some people.

It’s important to remember that the signs of menopause are not linear or wholly defined by age.

You may experience certain symptoms earlier or later than expected, or notice the same symptoms come and go over an extended time.

A couple of missed periods when you’re 40 might make you think you’re pregnant, but it’s also possible to begin experiencing changes related to perimenopause and even menopause around this age.

Approximately 5% of people experience perimenopausal hormonal changes between the ages of 40 and 45.

Perimenopause, marked by fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels, is often characterized by menstrual irregularities, including:

  • missing more than two or three consecutive menstrual periods
  • a shorter or longer menstrual cycle than usual
  • heavier or lighter menstrual flow than usual
  • more intense PMS symptoms
  • occasional hot flashes

Perimenopause more often begins in your late 40s. You’ll likely still get a period during this time, but your menstrual cycles may change over time.

Some people may experience additional symptoms during perimenopause, including:

Mental and emotional symptoms of perimenopause and menopause may include:

You may still get pregnant during perimenopause, although it’s rare.

Menopause that occurs at or before age 40 (12 consecutive months without a period) is known as premature menopause and is less common.

Research suggests that premature menopause is associated with decreased life expectancy, but more research is needed to understand the underlying link.

Menopause and life expectancy

Menopause may increase the likelihood of:

Although most people have begun the transition into menopause or postmenopause by early 50s, a small percentage of people may experience late onset menopause, after age 55.

Older research has linked late onset menopause to a reduced risk of:

Research suggests that late onset menopause is linked to a longer life expectancy. Experts theorize that prolonged exposure to estrogen may protect the heart and bones.

Although premature menopause is possible, most people may reach menopause by their early 50s. The average menopause onset age in the United States is 52.

Menopause refers to a single event: Completing 12 consecutive months without a period. At this point, the ovaries are no longer releasing eggs, and estrogen and progesterone levels drop significantly.

Postmenopause refers to life after menopause, once your menstrual periods stop permanently. You may still have some of the menopause symptoms during this stage.

A 2018 questionnaire-based study of 2,020 women ages 40–65 years found that 40% of them experienced hot flashes and related symptoms during postmenopause.

The transition to menopause begins and ends at different times. Factors like your family history, personal health history, and whether you smoke can all impact menopause onset.

Perimenopause is the period of life when you may start experiencing hormonal changes that eventually will lead to menopause. Menopause is when you have completed 12 consecutive months without a period, after which you start postmenopause.

If symptoms of perimenopause and menopause are interfering with your quality of life, consider discussing them with a healthcare professional. It is possible to manage many symptoms, and some of these may have a different cause.