Book a consultation

How long can the menopause last? [with sign language]

Dr Louise Newson clarifies how long the menopause can last in some women.

Video Transcript:

I am Dr. Louise Newson. I am a GP and Menopause Expert in West Midlands.

As women we are designed to have babies. That is our one main role in life.

So if you think in the 1900s – the early 1900s – the average age of the Menopause was 57 and they would on average die at 59. So we had only a couple of years of Menopause to experience. Now the average age is 51…so a few years earlier. But the average life-expectancy of the woman is in her eighties, which is amazing. It is great. So it a 30 years of potentially having menopausal symptoms or being post-menopausal.

Some women only experience symptoms for a couple of years and they are the lucky ones. But I have patients who still have hot flushes in their seventies and their eighties. So not only do they have symptoms for a long time but the lack of estrogen can affect their bones and can affect our hearts adversely as well.

Looking for Menopause Doctor? You’re in the right place!

  1. We’ve moved to a bigger home at balance for Dr Louise Newson to host all her content.

You can browse all our evidence-based and unbiased information in the Menopause Library.