Important Facts About Menopause - What Age Does it Start?

All women are different, not only in physical and emotional standards, but also on when they will experience the first signs and symptoms of menopause. There is a major debate going on regarding what age does menopausal usually kicks in.

In brief, this condition happens when you're reproductive system stops producing functioning ovaries. It doesn't happen in a single day but is mostly seen to range from 10 to 12 months at best. Women may experience lessening of their menstrual cycle at this point until it stops when the condition reaches its peak.

1. Premature Menopausal

There are some women that go into this condition at an early age. Statistics shows that around 2 to 3 percent of women today experience the signs and symptoms at 35. Most Asian women go into menopausal when they reach 40 and above. It was also observed that identical twins have a higher chance of going into early menopausal between 35 and 39 -- both experience it at the same time.

There were also cases wherein environment factors affect the age where women undergo early menopausal. Studies show that women who live in a polluted area are prone to experience the first signs of this condition around the age of 30 or 35. Also, it is best to consider that there is a possibility of experiencing pre-menopausal symptom instead of ruling it out.

2. Normal Menopausal

The average age that most women experience menopause is between 51 and 55. In most cases, the onset of this condition is mostly hereditary, wherein women follow the steps of their mothers at the age when the first stages of menopausal are visible. There is also a possibility that you will experience the same condition at the age similar to that of your eldest sister in the family.

Keep in mind; however, that the symptoms experienced during premature menopausal is quite different from the normal ones. In most cases, the signs and symptoms of the former appears early and may take 2 to 3 years before continuing on to the actual menopausal cycle.

Early Signs and Symptoms

Women at the age of 40 and above may encounter irregularities to their menstrual cycle that marks the start of the pre-menopausal stage. Fluctuation is common at this point -- like one day getting some minor spotting and a lot of bleeding on the next period.

Hot flashes and night sweats are common signs of menopause. Whether it's at an early age or later in your lifetime, all women encounter irregularities with their body temperature, as well as unexplained sweating during cold nights. Sleeping problems is also possible during the pre-menopausal stage that might also contribute to the emotional changes that happens during this condition.