{"id":9904,"date":"2024-01-23T23:10:01","date_gmt":"2024-01-23T16:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=9904"},"modified":"2024-01-23T23:10:01","modified_gmt":"2024-01-23T16:10:01","slug":"how-long-do-menopause-symptoms-last-anyway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=9904","title":{"rendered":"How Long Do Menopause Symptoms Last, Anyway?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"drop-cap text-big text-gray\"> <span class=\"drop-cap__first text-dropcap \">I<\/span>f you\u2019re going through menopause, you\u2019re likely eager for the hot flashes, bursts of irritability, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/surprising-menopause-symptoms\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/surprising-menopause-symptoms\/\">other tiresome symptoms<\/a> to come to a halt. But unfortunately, there\u2019s no definitive end point to menopause you can circle on the calendar.<\/div>\n<p id=\"co158\">Technically speaking, menopause is the point when menstruation stops completely, marked by a year passing since your last period, according to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/menopause\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20353397\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/menopause\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20353397\">Mayo Clinic<\/a>. It\u2019s during <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/perimenopause-definition\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/perimenopause-definition\/\">perimenopause<\/a>\u2014the transitional period leading up to the end of menstruation\u2014when symptoms usually begin.<\/p>\n<p id=\"co159\">And these symptoms can continue through menopause and into postmenopause\u2014sometimes for a decade (or longer) after your last period, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/21841-menopause\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/21841-menopause\">Cleveland Clinic<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"\">\n<hr\/>\n<div class=\"experts-in-article noskim py-[24px] px-[40px]\">\n<p>Experts In This Article<\/p>\n<ul class=\"!ml-[18px]\">\n<li> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dralexamieses.com\/about\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.dralexamieses.com\/about\">Alexa Mieses Malchuk, MD, MPH<\/a>, a board-certified family medicine physician and District Medical Director at One Medical in North Carolina <\/li>\n<li> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.utmb.edu\/fammed\/about-us\/biographies\/samuel-mathis\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.utmb.edu\/fammed\/about-us\/biographies\/samuel-mathis\/\">Samuel Mathis, MD<\/a>, a board-certified family medicine doctor and assistant professor of family medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch <\/li>\n<li> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/divesh-goel-ab8a3b15b\/\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/divesh-goel-ab8a3b15b\/\">Divesh Goel, MD<\/a>, board-certified family medicine doctor <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<hr\/><\/div>\n<p id=\"co160\">Typical\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/menopause-signs-symptoms\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/menopause-signs-symptoms\/\">menopause symptoms<\/a>\u00a0include the following, according to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nia.nih.gov\/health\/menopause\/what-menopause\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.nia.nih.gov\/health\/menopause\/what-menopause\">National Institute on Aging<\/a>\u00a0(NIA):<\/p>\n<ul id=\"co161\">\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Period changes:<\/b>\u00a0For many people, periods tend to be similar month after month. During perimenopause, though, that changes: Periods may be shorter or longer, heavier or lighter. Plus, you may skip a period or several.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Hot flashes:<\/b>\u00a0While they may be short, lasting mere seconds or up to 10 minutes, hot flashes are uncomfortable. During one, you\u2019ll feel hot and flushed, and your skin may get blotchy. Once the hot flash passes, you may feel sweaty or chilled. (Good news: There are\u00a0natural <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/hot-flash-relief\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/hot-flash-relief\/\">remedies for hot flashes<\/a>, including the straightforward tactic of drinking cold water as a hot flash kicks in.)<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Changes to your body:<\/b> This includes incontinence, weight changes, and possibly headaches and other aches and pains throughout your body. Sleeping well can also become more challenging (in part due to night sweats, aka, nighttime hot flashes).<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mood changes:<\/b>\u00a0You may find you\u2019re quick to get irritated or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/mental-health-symptoms-menopause\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/mental-health-symptoms-menopause\/\">feel more moody<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Vaginal and libido changes:<\/b>\u00a0Decreasing estrogen levels can lead to vaginal dryness. This, in turn, can lead to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/pain-during-sex\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/pain-during-sex\/\">painful sex<\/a>. And, speaking of sex: You may find your libido has shifted, and you may desire sex more (or less) than before.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"co162\">Another common menopause symptom:\u00a0brain fog, or issues with focus and memory, according to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org\/discussion\/mayo-clinic-minute-does-menopause-cause-brain-fog\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org\/discussion\/mayo-clinic-minute-does-menopause-cause-brain-fog\/\">Mayo Clinic<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content \" style=\"\" data-module-init=\"related-content\" data-module-immediate=\"\" v-cloak=\"\">\n<div class=\"related-content__wrapper \" v-cloak=\"\" :class=\"{'is-loaded':isLoaded}\">\n<p> <span class=\"inline text-h5 text-seafoam-dark\">Related Stories<\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <related-content class=\"related-content__links\" parent-article-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-long-do-menopause-symptoms-last-anyway\/\" current-title=\"How Long Do Menopause Symptoms Last, Anyway?\" current-image=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/RealTalkRx_Editorial_How-Long-Do-Menopause-Symptoms-Last-425x285_418x278_true_70.webp\" v-on:parsely-posts-loaded=\"onPostsLoaded\" start-date=\"2023-07-23\" tag=\"div\" inline-template=\"\" url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-long-do-menopause-symptoms-last-anyway\/\" secret=\"w5ztterVB03LGZJLfXS0hf3EvQBuFFIWew9hmVQxthU\" apikey=\"wellandgood.com\" limit=\"3\"> <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"related-content__card mb-[10px] sm:mb-[20px]\" :class=\"{'related-content__card--full':posts.length === 1}\" v-for=\"(post, key) in posts\"> <a v-on:click.prevent=\"trackLinkGA($event, key)\" :href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-long-do-menopause-symptoms-last-anyway\/post.url\" data-url-source=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content__link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content__card--image bg-tan\" :style=\"{ backgroundImage: 'url(' + post.image_url + ')' }\"> <img decoding=\"async\" :src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-long-do-menopause-symptoms-last-anyway\/post.image_url\" :alt=\"post.title\" class=\" js-inline-lazy-load\" src=\"\"\/> <\/div>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/related-content> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p id=\"co163\">Perimenopause typically begins between the ages of 45 and 55, according to the NIA. As for how long it lasts, estimates are broad and varied.<\/p>\n<p id=\"co164\">For instance, according to the NIA, perimenopause lasts between seven and 14 years. The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealth.gov\/menopause\/menopause-basics#3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealth.gov\/menopause\/menopause-basics#3\">Office on Women\u2019s Health<\/a>, on the other hand, estimates two to eight years. And the <a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/21608-perimenopause\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/21608-perimenopause\">Cleveland Clinic<\/a> says symptoms stick around for four years, on average.<\/p>\n<p id=\"co165\">So, while four years may be a good ballpark for how long to expect your menopause symptoms to last, it\u2019s possible they\u2019ll last far longer (or, more optimistically, may ease up far sooner).<\/p>\n<p id=\"co166\">For our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/real-talk-rx\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/real-talk-rx\/\">Real Talk Rx series<\/a>, we asked readers to send us their biggest health questions and then posed the most common to a panel of doctors. We found many readers wondered how long menopause symptoms would last (or, more to the point: when menopause symptoms would end). Here&#8217;s what the experts had to say.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"co167\">How long do menopause symptoms last?<\/h2>\n<p id=\"co197\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1150733 js-inline-lazy-load\" alt=\"Divesh Goel, MD, headshot banner\" width=\"1170\" height=\"195\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Expert-Banner_Divesh-Goel-MD__falsexfalse_true_70.webp\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"co198\">&#8220;We don&#8217;t have a set timeframe for menopause\u2014it&#8217;s totally individualized. The normal onset of menopause is after age 45, with the typical age around 51. It can last six months, a year, a couple years \u2026or even longer than that.<\/p>\n<p id=\"co199\">The most common side effects are hot flashes, which most people want to end sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n<p id=\"co200\">There are good therapeutic interventions that are safe for most [people]. If you use hormone [therapy], we like to give that therapy within 10 years of the onset of menopause, and we recommend three to five years of use. Beyond that, we might suggest lifestyle modifications or testing for other hormonal deficiencies.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p id=\"co168\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1150725 js-inline-lazy-load\" alt=\"Samuel Mathis, MD, headshot banner\" width=\"1170\" height=\"195\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Expert-Banner_Samuel-Mathis-MD__falsexfalse_true_70.webp\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"co169\">&#8220;This question is a little tough to answer because some patients never stop having menopause symptoms, so they may have hot flashes for the rest of their lives.<\/p>\n<p id=\"co170\">But in general, if people\u2019s menopause symptoms are lasting longer than one to two years, they should probably touch base with their doctor. Or if the symptoms are severe enough that it\u2019s causing significant disruption to their life, they should talk with their doctor about options to help manage those symptoms.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p id=\"co171\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1150731 js-inline-lazy-load\" alt=\"Alexa Mieses Malchuk, MD, headshot banner\" width=\"1170\" height=\"195\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Expert-Banner_Alexa-Mieses-Malchuk-MD_falsexfalse_true_70.webp\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"co172\">&#8220;As soon as a person starts to experience menopause symptoms, they should talk with their family physician, no matter how long they&#8217;ve had them. We do have treatments for all the different symptoms that people may experience. So for example, hot flashes, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/sleep-problems-perimenopause\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/sleep-problems-perimenopause\/\">sleep disturbances<\/a>, weight gain, mood changes\u2014this is not something that people necessarily have to suffer through.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2>The takeaway<\/h2>\n<p>There&#8217;s no set timeline for menopause symptoms, which can last from months to years, extending into postmenopause. Our expert panel, as well as reputable online health resources, shared a wide range of estimates about the duration of symptoms.<\/p>\n<p>This may all sound a bit vague\u2014and dire, if you\u2019re finding these symptoms disruptive to your sleep, sex life, and daily life in general\u2014but know that treatments, such as hormone therapy, are available and can help. Talk to your health care provider about your options.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u200cConfused about your health? Get answers to more common questions in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/real-talk-rx\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/real-talk-rx\/\">Real Talk Rx series<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re going through menopause, you\u2019re likely eager for the hot flashes, bursts of irritability, and other tiresome symptoms to come to a halt. But unfortunately, there\u2019s no definitive end point to menopause you can circle on the calendar. Technically speaking, menopause is the point when menstruation stops completely, marked by a year passing since &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":9905,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9904","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9904","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9904"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9904\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9905"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9904"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9904"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9904"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}