Menopause isn't a single day. It's the point when your periods stop for good, and the changes around it happen in stages, often over several years.1 Knowing which stage you're in helps you make sense of your symptoms and talk with your doctor.
The three stages
1. Perimenopause: the years leading up to your last period
Perimenopause usually starts in your mid- to late 40s and lasts 2 to 8 years, about 4 years for most women. Periods become irregular, and symptoms may start.1
2. Menopause: one full year with no period
You reach menopause after 12 months in a row with no bleeding or spotting. The average age in the U.S. is 52, and most women reach it between about 45 and 58.1
3. Postmenopause: every year after that
No more periods and no more pregnancy. Any vaginal bleeding after menopause is not normal and should be checked by a doctor right away.1
A quick way to spot your stage
- Irregular periods plus new symptoms often mean perimenopause.1
- Twelve months with no period means you've reached menopause.1
- Periods stopped before age 40? Your doctor may test your hormone levels.1
Menopause can come earlier with
Smoking (up to 2 years earlier), chemotherapy, surgery to remove both ovaries, and certain health problems.1
Myth: "My periods are irregular, so I can't get pregnant."
Fact: You may still ovulate some months. Keep using birth control until a full year after your last period if you don't want to get pregnant.1
Want the full map? The Menopause Map is a printable 19-page PDF covering symptoms, sleep, hormone and non-hormone treatments, bone and heart health, plus a monthly symptom tracker to bring to your doctor. Instant download, $5.99.
Sources
- Menopause basics, Office on Women's Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
General information only. Does not replace advice from your doctor.