How common is menopause?
Menopause is a part of every woman's life. And symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, are common. But most women cope
without any problems.
In the United States, the average age for going through menopause is 51.1 Most women get some symptoms of the menopause around this time. A survey in Scotland looked at more than 6,000 women between the ages of 45 and 54.2 It found that 84 in 100 of these women had at least one symptom of menopause.
Symptoms of menopause can be distressing. But for most women, they're not serious. For example, about 57 in 100 women get hot flashes.2 But only 22 in 100 women say that they're bad enough to be a problem.
Sources for the information on this page:
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Management of menopause-related symptoms. Available at http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epcsums/menosum.htm (accessed on 30 October 2007).
- Porter M, Penney GC, Russell D, et al. A population based survey of women's experience of the menopause. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 1996; 103: 1025-1028. 8863703
This information was last updated in Aug 13, 2008
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This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved. |
