Why ask your mom when she went through menopause?

Menopause is the last menstrual period in a woman's life

It is determined retrospectively, that is, "looking back," once there have been no periods for a year.

Normally, menopause occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, most often around 50.

The average age also varies from country to country: in some places it's 48, in others 52.

Besides menopause arriving at the usual age, there are other variants

Premature ovarian insufficiency is when periods stop before age 40.

Early menopause is when this happens between 40 and 45.

Late menopause is a last period after age 55.¹

Each of these variants may be linked to certain health risks

For example, premature ovarian insufficiency and early menopause are associated with:

• a potential decline in quality of life;
• reduced fertility;
• reduced bone density;
• cardiovascular disease;
• cognitive decline and depression.²

Late menopause is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer³ and endometrial cancer.⁴

Why does a mother's age at menopause matter for her daughter?

Put simply, the age at which menopause begins has a significant hereditary component.⁵

What happened to the mother is highly likely to happen to her daughters too.

What's more, if your mother's periods stopped for surgical reasons, it's worth finding out exactly what they were

That's because there is evidence of a genetic predisposition to uterine fibroids, endometriosis, endometrial cancer and other hyperplastic processes.⁶,⁷

You can also ask your mom how she felt during this period

Genetic factors can influence not only the age of menopause but also how severe certain symptoms are, such as hot flashes, night sweats and chills.

But this doesn't mean your mom's experience will necessarily repeat itself in her daughter.

The most common symptoms of menopausal syndrome are hot flashes and night sweats

They can begin even before the last period and continue for several years, and for some women for more than 10 years.

During this period, you may also experience:

• irritability, mood swings, anxiety or depressive symptoms;
• sleep problems, fatigue;
• difficulties with memory and concentration;
• vaginal dryness, itching or burning, pain during sex;
• discomfort when urinating;
• muscle and joint pain.

Ask your mom

When did her menopause begin?

Was it due to surgical reasons?

Which signs of menopausal syndrome did she feel most strongly?

Knowing the risks and pitfalls you may face along your path in life makes it easier to avoid them.

So talk to your mom.