The following ‘Ask the Experts’ questions were sent in to The Menopause Exchange by our members, the answers were provided by our ‘Ask the Experts’ panel and included in issue 86 (autumn 2020) of The Menopause Exchange newsletter. If you would like to read the questions and answers in the latest issue of The Menopause Exchange newsletter sign up for FREE emailed newsletters.
Am I likely to experience the menopause at the same age as my mum did?
Dr Diana Mansour, consultant doctor, replies:
It’s likely that you’ll experience your menopause within a few years of your mum’s age at the menopause. Most women go through the menopause between 45 and 55, with the average age being about 51. So if your mum went through the menopause at this age, it’s highly likely that you will too, unless you have certain medical conditions or treatments or have had gynaecological surgery affecting how your ovaries work. If your mum went through an early menopause before age 45, you’ll have a greater risk of an early menopause (before the age of 45). Research is still investigating this complex issue, with a number of genes seeming to play a role.