Peri-menopause is a time period that often confuses many women and it is the start of the body’s natural change from fertile to infertile. During this period, women will notice they have a normal period for several months and then miss their period for several months. Also, the flow may vary somewhat during this time which often causes women to wonder if they are pregnant or if there is something wrong with their bodies.

Pre-menopause is a stage that occurs earlier and may begin when you’re in your early 30s or 40s. This stage simply means that women experience their reproductive cycle slowing down. During this stage, some of the menopause symptoms occur such as hair  loss, reduced sex drive, PMS, facial hair, weight gain around the waist, water retention, infertility, fibroids, and many other symptoms.

At what age does menopause begin?

There is no pre-determined age at which natural menopause will occur. Factors that affect the timing of menopause include heredity, lifestyle and reproductive history. If you think you might have reached menopause, see your gynecologist for an exam.

Menopause is a time to protect yourself from the inconvenience of hot flashes, and associated health risks, such as osteoporosis and heart disease, making it especially important to know for certain that you have reached this unique transitioning period in your life.

Be sure to take time to discuss your health needs thoroughly with your health care provider.

Other things to Consider

Race and ethnicity may also play a role in the influence of when  menopause occurs.

Other factors include age of onset of menstruation, number of pregnancies you’ve experienced, and how old you were at full term pregnancy.

Oral contraceptive use, body mass index, ethnic background and smoking are all considerations when tryng to determine when menopause might happen.