When you reach menopause is in part determined by your genes. Other lifestyle factors, such as your weight, whether you have had children, and more, may also contribute to an earlier or later age of menopause.
You have reached menopause once you go a year without having a period.
On average, this happens
You can ask your biological mother when she entered menopause to help you get a better understanding of when you might enter it as well.
Her response won’t predict the exact age at which you’ll reach menopause, but it can give you a close estimate.
Also, keep in mind the age range for this part of life. Try to track perimenopause symptoms, such as irregular periods, hot flashes, or vaginal dryness, which typically start 2 to 8 years before menopause and last 4 years.
If you don’t have a biological mother, it can be harder — but not impossible — to determine when you’ll reach menopause, especially as studies are defining the role of specific genes in menopause.
Current research
Researchers of a 2021 study have found that two genes in particular
When they changed how mice expressed the CHEK1 and CHEK2 genes, their offspring also reflected these changes in their fertile windows.
Translated to people, this data suggests that women with lower levels of CHEK2 may experience menopause more than 3 years later than those with typical CHEK2 levels.
Another study suggests that even more specific genes associated with early menopause may exist, though exactly how these genes influence the timing of this transition is still unknown.
In the future, genetic tests may be able to help people who will experience menopause determine their window of fertility.
While genes are considered a strong indicator of when you may enter menopause, they’re not the sole influence.
Certain lifestyle factors are associated with entering menopause at an earlier age:
- Smoking cigarettes: Smoking affects ovarian function, especially if frequent. Speak with your doctor about smoking cessation options if you would like help quitting.
- Being underweight: Research has found that women who are underweight
may be at over twice the risk of experiencing early menopause compared to those with obesity. - Being treated for cancer: If you have or had gynecologic cancer, chemotherapy or pelvic radiation treatments may decrease ovarian function and induce menopause.
- Having surgery: Surgeries to remove the
ovaries (oophorectomy) or uterus (hysterectomy) may lead to surgical menopause because your body has stopped producing estrogen. - Not having given birth: Never having had children may lead to an earlier age of menopause.
Other lifestyle factors are associated with entering menopause at a later age:
- Having obesity: Compared to women who are underweight, those with
obesity may be 50% more likely to experience later menopause. - Using oral contraceptives: The use of oral contraceptives has been associated with a later age of menopause, potentially due to their effect on hormones.
- Having at least one live birth: If you have given birth at least once, you may be more likely to reach menopause later than someone who hasn’t had any live births. Similarly, having at least 3 children is associated with a later age of menopause.
- Breastfeeding or chestfeeding: Those who have breastfed or chestfed children for at least 25 months may begin menopause later than those who didn’t breastfeed or chestfeed.
These factors, however, are only associated with an earlier or a later age of menopause. They are not proven to alter the age at which you’ll reach menopause.
More high quality studies in humans are needed, as it is not well understood why any of these associations have been observed.
We recognize that not every will have children and breastfeed or chestfeed. In this population of people, menopause timing will not be affected by these choices.
If you have thoughts, questions, or concerns as you approach or navigate through menopause, connect with a healthcare professional.
You might also find it helpful to track your periods during perimenopause and mention other symptoms you may be experiencing to an expert.
They may recommend treatments for your symptoms, such as hormonal and nonhormonal therapies, natural remedies, and more.
Find a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, who can answer all of your menopause-related questions and help you find relief for the symptoms you’re experiencing, if any.
Though menopause typically happens between the ages of 45 and 58, not everyone will experience it around that time due to a mix of genetics and lifestyle factors.
It’s suggested that your genes are a strong predictor of when you’ll reach menopause — try asking your biological mother, if you have one, when she reached menopause.
But whether or not you have had children, smoke, have obesity or are underweight, and other factors may also influence the timing of menopause.
For more support and guidance as you navigate through menopause, connect with a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. They’re trained to help you through this transition.