At What Age Does Menopause Start?

Featured photo: AI-generated illustration.

By Philly Wellness Center

Menopause usually comes between ages 45 and 55. Major U.S. sources put the average age at 51 or 52. Menopause is reached when there has been no period for 12 months, and the years leading up to it, called perimenopause, usually begin in a woman’s 40s.

Infographic header photo: AI-generated illustration.

What is the average age of menopause?

Two major U.S. sources differ by one year. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says the average age that women go through menopause is 51. The U.S. Office on Women’s Health, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, says that in the United States the average age of menopause is 52.

Both averages sit inside the most common range, covered next.

What is the usual age range for menopause?

MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine’s health site, says the most common age for reaching menopause is between 45 and 55. The Office on Women’s Health describes the same span: the transition into menopause usually happens between ages 45 and 55. Menopause can also come earlier than that range, and the sections below cover what counts as early.

At what age does the transition before menopause begin?

The years leading up to menopause are called perimenopause, or the menopausal transition. MedlinePlus says this transition usually begins in a woman’s 40s, but sometimes it can start earlier. The Office on Women’s Health says it usually begins in the mid- to late 40s, and that some women notice symptoms in their mid- to late 30s.

How long the transition and menopause last is covered in Understanding Menopause: Exactly How Long Does Menopause Last?

What counts as early or premature menopause?

MedlinePlus defines both terms. It says menopause that happens before age 45 is called early menopause, and menopause before age 40 is called premature menopause. Both happen when the ovaries stop making hormones and periods stop at a younger age than usual.

The Office on Women’s Health puts early menopause between ages 40 and 44 and premature menopause before age 40.

What can make menopause come earlier?

Surgery that removes both ovaries starts menopause right away, says the Office on Women’s Health. MedlinePlus lists other reasons for early or premature menopause: a family history of it, smoking, certain health conditions and some medical treatments. It can also happen on its own, with no known cause.

MedlinePlus adds that surgery to remove only the uterus stops periods but does not cause menopause unless the ovaries are also removed.

How is menopause confirmed?

MedlinePlus says a woman has reached menopause once 12 months have passed without a period, and the Office on Women’s Health adds that the 12 months include no spotting. Timing varies from woman to woman, so questions about a specific case are best taken to a health care provider.

Educational only, not medical advice.

Sources

1. U.S. National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus. “Menopause.” Last updated August 3, 2026. Read November 3, 2026. medlineplus.gov/menopause
2. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. “The Menopause Years.” Last reviewed December 2025. Read November 3, 2026. acog.org/womens-health/faqs/the-menopause-years
3. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health. “Menopause basics.” Page last updated October 19, 2026. Read November 3, 2026. womenshealth.gov/menopause/menopause-basics
4. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health. “Early or premature menopause.” Page last updated October 19, 2026. Read November 3, 2026. womenshealth.gov/menopause/early-or-premature-menopause