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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffTechnically, you don't actually "hit" menopause until it's been one year since your final menstrual period. In the United States, that happens at about age 51, on average.
But in the months or years leading up to that point, you might experience these signs and symptoms:
- Irregular periods
- Decreased fertility
- Vaginal dryness
- Hot flashes
- Sleep disturbances
- Mood swings
- Increased abdominal fat
- Thinning hair
- Loss of breast fullness
When to see a doctor
Schedule regular visits with your doctor during the years leading up to menopause (perimenopause) and the years after menopause (postmenopause) for preventive health care as well as care of medical conditions that may occur with aging.
If you've skipped a period but aren't sure you've started the menopausal transition, you may want to see your doctor to determine whether you're pregnant. Always seek medical advice if you have bleeding from your vagina after menopause.
- Bradshaw KD. Menopausal transition. In: Schorge JO, et al. Williams Gynecology. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=3158526. Accessed June 15, 2011.
- Manson JE, et al. The menopausal transition and postmenopausal hormone therapy. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=2881945. Accessed June 15, 2011.
- Menopause. National Institute on Aging. http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/menopause.htm. Accessed June 15, 2011.
- Cedars MI, et al. Menopause. In: Gibbs RS, et al. Danforth's Obstetrics and Gynecology. 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008:725.
- Col NF, et al. In the clinic: Menopause. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2009;150:ITC4.
- Gass MLS. Menopause. In: Hillard PJA. The 5-Minute Obstetrics and Gynecology Consult. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008:292.
- National Institutes of Health state-of-the-science conference statement: Management of menopause-related symptoms. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2005;142:1003.
- Cohen BE, et al. Feasibility and acceptability of restorative yoga for treatment of hot flushes: A pilot trial. Maturitas: The European Menopause Journal. 2007;56:198.
- Chattha R, et al. Treating the climacteric symptoms in Indian women with an integrated approach to yoga therapy: A randomized control study. Menopause: The Journal of the North American Menopause Society. 2008;15:862.
- Innes KE, et al. Mind-body therapies for menopausal symptoms: A systematic review. Maturitas. 2010;66:135.
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