Average Age of Menopause

Traditionally, the average age of menopause was 60. Women would enter perimenopause in their 50s and finally menopause (defined as having had 12 consecutive months without menstruation) at around the age of 60, give or take a few years.

In recent years, however, the average age of menopause has been getting younger and younger. Now it is quite normal for women to enter perimenopause in their 40s and menopause in their 50s. While this did cause alarm in the beginning, what has become more alarming is that women as early as 35 can enter perimenopause, which according to the trend can have women menopausing earlier. Also, it seems that the younger perimenopause hits, the longer it lasts, which is terrible for women.

Doctors have been noticing these trends, and have been wondering why the average age of menopause seems to become younger through the generations. So why is the average age of menopause shifting? At present, doctors presume it has to do with the increasingly stressful lifestyle women lead, as well as the sudden influx of unhealthy foods available to women. Unhealthy habits such as alcohol and excessive caffeine may also be triggering women's bodies to believe that they are "older" than they really are. This is worrisome because the shift in ages poses certain health implications for women, and these implications can be serious.

First, earlier onset of perimenopause means earlier hormonal imbalances in a woman's body. This can complicate a woman's reproductive system, and can be one of the reasons why an increasing number of women are getting hysterectomies. It also increases the chances of having unexpected pregnancies or pregnancies in which the children have higher chances of having pre-natal problems.

Second, the imbalance caused by perimenopause hormones can be very disrupting in a woman's life, especially when they are still in their 30s, and are expected to be very active at work and in the home. Some women connect the stress of their lives and the symptoms of perimenopause to the increasing numbers of women who are diagnosed with psychological problems like depression or bi-polar disorder. While it is very possible that going through some of the hormonal changes of perimenopause and having it be so disrupting can exacerbate psychological symptoms, there are no clear connections between the two, though the correlation is something worth taking note of.

The problems mentioned above are just two of the more serious health problems that can arise from the average age of menopause becoming younger. If the current lifestyle trend is what is causing this alarming shift in the average age of menopause, then women are asked to lead healthier lives starting in their younger years so as to lengthen their reproductive life, as well as to shorten the length of perimenopause.

There are other health problems that can pose complications, and women who perimenopause early should take the time to read about what they are up against so that they may better prepare themselves for the challenges ahead. There is a lot of literature on perimenopause, such as Pam Andrews' 'Perimenopause: Have it, Live it, Love it' which can really help you figure out how to cope with the situation.