How long does menopause last?
Menopause marks the stage in a woman’s life when she has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. However, the transition begins long before this point and can continue well beyond it, bringing a range of symptoms that vary in duration and intensity.
In this article, we explore the typical age for menopause, the average age it begins, and practical lifestyle changes that can help manage ongoing symptoms—empowering you to navigate this natural transition with confidence.
When does menopause start?
Menopause is the term used to describe the stage in a woman’s life when their periods stop due to declining oestrogen levels. This is a natural part of the ageing process for women. The average menopause age is between 45 to 55, but it can happen earlier in some women due to:
- Lifestyle factors
- Genetics
- Some cancer treatments
- Surgery to remove the ovaries or uterus.
Many women begin experiencing menopause symptoms as their oestrogen levels start to decline, typically in their late 30s or early 40s. This stage, known as perimenopause, signals the start of hormonal shifts that gradually lead to the end of reproductive years.
As a result, while the typical age for menopause for most women is between 45 to 55, it is possible to start experiencing symptoms up to 10 years before.
How long do menopause symptoms last?
The length of menopause symptoms varies from person to person. Some women can experience symptoms of menopause 10 years before reaching menopause, while for others, it may only be a few months. Some women also continue to experience symptoms post menopause.
Regardless of the length or severity of symptoms, for many women, one of the first telltale signs of menopause is changes to their normal menstrual cycle.
Common menopause symptoms
Just like the length of menopause symptoms, the scope and severity of symptoms can vary widely. Some women experience very few symptoms, whereas others may find that menopausal symptoms significantly impact their day-to-day lives.
Some of the most common symptoms of menopause to look out for include:
- Irregular periods – Often one of the first telltale signs of perimenopause, you may notice more infrequent periods, changes to the length or flow of your periods, or even spotting in between your periods. It’s important to note that if you experience any spotting, you should contact your GP as there are many other potential causes.
- Hot flushes – A common symptom of menopause, hot flushes are short and intense rushes of warmth in the face and upper body. They can cause profuse sweating, blotchiness, dizziness, and disrupt sleep which can all impact your day-to-day life and mood.
- Night sweats – Essentially hot flushes that occur throughout the night, due to changes in hormone levels, night sweats can impact sleep quality and make other menopause symptoms like anxiety and low mood worse.
- Vaginal changes – Low oestrogen levels can reduce your sex drive and cause the lining of the vagina to become thinner and dryer, which can make having sex more painful. Some women also experience urge incontinence during perimenopause.
- Difficulty sleeping – Fluctuating hormone levels can disrupt sleep patterns, making it harder for you to fall asleep or causing you to wake up multiple times in the night. Hot flushes and night sweats can also contribute to poor quality sleep.
- Emotional changes – Increased anxiety, irritability and low mood are common menopause symptoms that often start in perimenopause and continue post menopause.
- Memory and concentration difficulties – Although often dismissed or put down to other causes, like age or having a lot on, memory and concentration problems can be a sign of menopause. These issues can affect your work and your personal life.
Other less common menopause symptoms include:
- Dry skin
- Muscle and joint pains
- Breast tenderness
- Headaches
- Hair loss or thinning
- Weight gain
You can learn more about the symptoms of menopause and explore available treatment options in our complete guide to ‘What is menopause?’.
How do I know when menopause is over?
Menopause is classed as over when you haven’t had a period for 12 consecutive months. This is called post menopause and is a stage of life that lasts indefinitely.
Despite being post menopause, some women may continue to experience the symptoms of menopause for a few years after reaching menopause.
It is not necessary to have any tests to confirm ‘menopause’ but some women find a menopause blood test helpful in determining if the symptoms they’re experiencing are related to hormonal changes or for managing hormone replacement therapy treatment. Find out more about the pros and cons of a menopause blood test.
Lifestyle changes to help manage symptoms
As the symptoms of menopause can last for several years and affect day-to-day life, many women seek ways to manage their symptoms. Although there are medical treatment options available to help reduce menopause symptoms, like hormone replacement therapy (HRT), often, these can come with side effects. As a result, many women seek alternative ways to try to manage their symptoms through lifestyle changes.
Some of the general lifestyle changes you can make to try and reduce the length and severity of menopause symptoms include:
- Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet - this can help reduce some of the symptoms associated with menopause, like weight gain. To find out the best diet for menopause, read our guide.
- Exercising regularly - this can help you maintain a healthy weight and promote better sleep.
- Prioritising sleep - this can help reduce feelings of increased anxiety and low mood.
There are also some simple ways to reduce specific menopause symptoms:
Hot flushes and night sweats
- Wear light clothing
- Wear multiple layers so you can remove a layer and stay more comfortable as needed
- Keep your bedroom cool at night
- Take a cold shower, use a fan or have a cold drink
- Aim to reduce your stress levels
- Avoid triggers, such as spicy food, hot drinks or alcohol
Vaginal changes
- Use a water-based lubricant during sex
- Use an over-the-counter vaginal moisturiser every few days
Difficulty sleeping
- Implement a sleep routine
- Reduce your caffeine intake and avoid it completely in the afternoon
- Avoid napping through the day
- Avoid exercise or alcohol close to bedtime
- Sleep in a cool, dark and quiet room
- Avoid screens (phones and tv) for at least an hour before bed
- Try to create a relaxing wind down routine, like taking a bath or having a hot, milky drink
Find out more about the link between sleep and menopause and ways to combat poor sleep quality in our guide.
Learn more about your hormonal health
If you are keen to learn more about your hormone health, book a private Advanced Menopause Profile blood test. At Bluecrest Wellness, our complete female hormone package provides insights into five key female hormones as well as a private GP consultation to discuss your symptoms to help determine if you are experiencing menopause. It can also help you plan and adjust treatment options like hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to your bespoke needs.
We offer appointments across the UK, so you can book a private hormone profile blood test at a time and location to suit you. Plus, you can be confident that we will deliver fast, efficient and accurate results as we have established links with leading UK laboratories and are fully accredited for a wide range of private blood checks.
