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Written by
Stacy Miller
Perimenopause is a major life stage transition where a woman begins transitioning away from her peak reproductive years. While it’s common to hear a lot about menopause, perimenopause is often less discussed. Understanding this important change can make it easier to handle the symptoms that come with it. One common question women ask is what the average age of perimenopause is. In this article, we’ll discuss the average age at which perimenopause starts, how to diagnose it, and what symptoms you can expect.
Perimenopause is a normal part of a woman’s reproductive cycle, where you transition out of your peak reproductive years into menopause. It is caused by ovarian aging, during which the number of follicles decreases dramatically. As a result, levels of sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone drop. This hormonal change affects your menstrual cycle, leading to ovulation being absent and irregular menstrual cycles until they eventually stop completely.
As women age, they begin to wonder, “When does perimenopause start?” While every woman is different, the average age for perimenopause is 46.
However, it is possible to begin experiencing symptoms before this time. The early perimenopausal age span is from 40 to 45. A condition called premature ovarian insufficiency can cause the ages of perimenopause to drop into a woman’s 30s, but this condition is extremely rare. Understanding the average perimenopause age can help you better prepare and recognize symptoms when they occur.
As we quickly discussed above, while the average age of perimenopause is 46, in some rare cases, it can start as early as their 30s. Premature ovarian insufficiency is when a woman’s ovaries prematurely stop functioning. This condition is extremely rare, affecting only around 1% of women under age 40.
The early age for perimenopause is 40 to 45, with only around 5% of women experiencing symptoms during this time. Since premature menopause is caused by dropping estrogen levels, women who begin experiencing menopausal symptoms earlier could be at a higher risk for the negative health effects associated with menopause.
While knowing the average age perimenopause starts can help you keep an eye out for when symptoms begin, understanding how it’s diagnosed is another important factor. Diagnosing perimenopause is done in two ways: symptom identification and hormone tests.
When it comes to diagnosing, perimenopause ages are used to determine which method is used. For women who are 40 to 45, hormone tests are done to determine FSH levels, as well as symptom identification. While women 45+ use their symptoms to determine if they’ve entered perimenopause.
Answering the question, “What age does perimenopause start?” is only one piece of the puzzle. While the common age for perimenopause can help you prepare for its onset, knowing the signs and symptoms is equally important. Here is a list of common symptoms you can expect regardless of your perimenopausal age.
Around age 46, which is the perimenopause average age onset, the first symptom women experience is irregular period bleeding. Typically, your cycle will become shorter and then get heavier over time. You’ll notice it becomes less predictable than completely unpredictable, going from a variation of around a week to exceeding 60 days in length. Once you’ve gone 12 consecutive months without a period, you officially enter the third stage of perimenopause, menopause.
Once you’ve reached the average age for perimenopause, you may start noticing more fatigue. Hormonal fluctuations can make you feel tired and cause sleep disturbances.
Regardless of what age perimenopause symptoms start, it’s possible to experience low mood, including depression, stress, and anxiety. Mood swings are also common during this time.
Forgetfulness is often associated with aging, and the average perimenopause age is 46. Hormone changes can cause brain fog and make it easier to forget things, which can be a frustrating perimenopausal symptom.
As we’ve discussed, the normal age for perimenopause is in the mid-40s, but it’s common to begin experiencing hot flashes closer to its final stage, which occurs in your late 40s to early 50s. Around 75% of perimenopausal and menopausal women experience hot flashes, making it one of the most reported late-stage perimenopausal symptoms.
Another symptom that’s closer to later age perimenopause and menopause is night sweats. Similar to hot flashes, night sweats are caused by sudden hormone fluctuations and are very common for most women.
Additional symptoms that come with the typical age for perimenopause include:
Now that we’ve answered, “What is the typical age for perimenopause?” it’s time to talk more about what causes early perimenopause. As you now know, the average age perimenopause starts is 46, and early perimenopause occurs from ages 40 to 45. If you start experiencing symptoms before the typical age for perimenopause, it could be due to the following reasons.
Your genetics can have an impact on the perimenopause average age, causing it to begin early. A family history of early menopausal symptoms and chromosomal abnormalities are the most common culprits.
Answering what is the average age for perimenopause may not take into account lifestyle choices. Women who smoke may be at an increased risk of 1-2 years early perimenopause and menopause, so it’s important to take good care of yourself and your body.
With perimenopause, what age you start experiencing symptoms can also be related to preexisting medical conditions. Certain autoimmune disorders like Graves’ disease can impact ovarian function. Receiving a hysterectomy or oophorectomy can also affect what age perimenopause can start.
Although knowing what is the average age for perimenopause can give you a good idea of when it will start, if you’re undergoing certain medical treatments, it can cause symptoms to appear sooner. For example, radiation and chemotherapy can cause damage to the ovaries, leading to early perimenopause.
Some not-so-obvious factors that can impact your age at perimenopause include your place of living. Women in rural areas tend to experience perimenopause earlier than those living in cities. In addition, shift work, alcohol consumption, and diet are also factors that influence the age of onset for perimenopause.
Now that we’ve discussed when perimenopause can start and what symptoms to expect, let’s talk about how to manage and treat them. Although you may not know exactly when perimenopause is going to start, having a plan in place for managing symptoms can give you peace of mind.
Maintaining open communication with your doctor is one of the most important ways you can self-advocate during major life changes. Not only can they give you insight by answering questions like “When does perimenopause start?” but they can also work with you to develop a treatment plan for symptoms. If your symptoms become unmanageable, they can prescribe medications like HRT or antidepressants or recommend supplements. It’s not enough to simply know “When does perimenopause begin?” staying connected with your doctor can make all the difference.
Sleep is crucial to maintaining your hormonal health, so ensuring you get 7 to 9 hours each night is essential for managing perimenopausal symptoms.
Stress has a huge impact on your hormones, so utilizing relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation can help during mood swings and when dealing with anxiety.
Exercise is great for your body and mind and can help lessen perimenopause symptoms.
Now that we’ve covered what age is perimenopause likely to start, what symptoms to expect, and how to manage them, let’s talk about when you should consult your doctor. If your symptoms are severe or interfere with your daily life, you should talk to a healthcare provider. They can work with you to develop a treatment plan that helps you feel better.
So, at what age do you start perimenopause? If you’re around age 46, you may start experiencing perimenopausal symptoms. Having a hormone tracker can help you monitor your hormone levels so you can better prepare for these life changes. Hormona is proud to offer our award-winning hormone tracker that’s revolutionizing how women view their hormonal health. We give you the tools and insights you need to understand your body better so you can feel your best!
Perimenopause at 25 is extremely rare due to a condition called premature ovarian insufficiency and is experienced by only 1% of women. When do you start perimenopause? The normal average age is 46, so it’s important to talk to your doctor if you start having symptoms in your 20s or 30s.
While every woman is different, on average, their period will stop between the ages of 51 and 53. It is believed that the number of follicles women are born with can affect when their cycles will end. Women with a higher number of follicles may have longer cycling years, while women with fewer follicles can expect their periods to stop earlier.
One of the oldest recorded ages for a woman still having a period was 65. However, most women will stop their periods around the ages of 51 to 53.
Yes, it is possible for stress to impact early perimenopause since it can accelerate ovarian decline.
Yes, perimenopause and menopause can accelerate biological aging in women.
The average age for perimenopause is 46; however, some women can experience early perimenopause between ages 40 and 45.
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Dr Singh is the Medical Director of the Indiana Sleep Center. His research and clinical practice focuses on the myriad of sleep.
What is the last stage of perimenopause? The last stage of perimenopause is menopause and is marked by 12 consecutive months without a period. During perimenopause, your sex hormone levels like estrogen and progesterone start to decrease, causing ovulation to
What age does perimenopause typically start? As women, our menstrual cycle plays a large role in our lives. During our peak reproductive years, our ovaries release an egg every month, which is either fertilized, resulting in pregnancy, or disintegrated in
Why do women experience perimenopause symptoms? Perimenopause is a natural stage in a woman’s life when the ovaries become less responsive to brain signals, leading to significant fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels, which drop right before the final period.
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