Q: When does menopause begin?

A: We hear the expressions, "the average" or "the normal" age ... when, in fact, as I say in Power Surge, "the only consistent thing about menopause is that it's consistently INconsistent. Every woman is different. For those statistic lovers, the average age for menopause is 51.4 years of age. That means, by the time the so-called "average" woman is 51.4, she'll be in menopause, or not having had a period for 12 consecutive months.

Additional statistics: Natural menopause occurs in 25% of women by age 47, in 50% by age 50, 75% by age 52 and 95% by age 55. Menopause due to surgical removal of the ovaries occurs in almost 30% of U.S. women past the age of 50.

However, average doesn't mean normal. Every woman is different. What's normal for one woman isn't for another. Your body should be your best gauge as to where you are in the menopause process. Menopause occuring naturally -- and by naturally, I mean, with no hysterectomy or other female surgery which can precipitate menopause, or chemotherapy, which can affect menopause as well, a woman can naturally begin experiencing perimenopausal "symptoms" (I use this word for convenience, as menopause is not an illness) as early as their late 30's. Others not until they're 50. If you feel you're beinning the process of menopause, which they call perimenopause, you probably are, despite the fact that your doctor may tell you, "You're too young to be in menopause." If you want more proof, you could always ask your GYN for a series of hormone tests. The most accurate method is saliva testing. However, you can have your hormones checked by blood tests as well. This will give you some determination as to your hormone levels and approximately where your body is in this process. Again, in the final analysis, the best judge of where you are is how you feel, not what tests say.

Best,
Dearest
Power Surge Founder
www.power-surge.com

Information provided by Dearest is general in nature and should not be construed as a substitute for a visit to and examination by your own health care practitioner.
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