Menopause is one point in time - 12 consecutive months after your last period. The symptoms around it run for years.
Perimenopause typically spans the 40s, hot flashes are usually worst in the first 1 to 2 years, and sleep problems or vaginal dryness can persist longer. Average age falls between 45 and 55. Disruptive symptoms are treatable rather than something to wait out.
What to do
Common questions
How long does menopause last?
Menopause itself is a single point in time - the day that marks 12 consecutive months since your last period. What people mean by the question is the symptomatic stretch around it, and that runs for years: perimenopause, the transition before the final period, typically spans the 40s, and the symptoms do not stop at the 12-month mark. MedlinePlus notes hot flashes are usually worst during the first 1 to 2 years and then ease for most women, though night sweats, sleep problems, and vaginal dryness can persist longer. The average age of menopause falls between 45 and 55, and after it, pregnancy is no longer possible. If symptoms are disrupting sleep, work, or mood, you do not have to wait them out - hormone therapy and non-hormonal options exist, and the risk-benefit math is individual, which is what the prescriber conversation is for. Pymander, a free AI doctor available 24/7 by text, can help you prepare for it.