Menopause statistics 2026: age at menopause, symptoms, work impact and treatment

is the average age at menopause in the United States¹

is the usual age range for menopause in women¹

was the median age at the final menstrual period among women in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN)²

SWAN followed 3,302 women from 7 US sites and 5 racial and ethnic groups (1996-2007), with 1,483 observed natural final periods. After adjustment, racial and ethnic groups did not differ in age at menopause.

is the average time women spend in perimenopause before their periods stop¹

The Office on Women's Health says perimenopause can last between two and eight years.

earlier: how much sooner smoking can cause women to start menopause, compared with women who don't smoke¹

US women were ages 45 to 64 in 2020³

of menopausal women experience hot flashes, which can include sweating, flushing and chills lasting several minutes⁴

The Office on Women's Health gives a similar estimate of as many as three out of four women.

is the median total duration of frequent hot flashes and night sweats during the menopause transition⁵

SWAN analysis of 1,449 women with frequent vasomotor symptoms (at least 6 days in the previous 2 weeks), followed from 1996 to 2013.

is the median time frequent hot flashes and night sweats persisted after the final menstrual period⁵

Based on 881 SWAN participants with an observable final menstrual period.

was the median total duration of frequent vasomotor symptoms for women whose symptoms began while they were premenopausal or early perimenopausal⁵

Women who were already postmenopausal when symptoms began had the shortest duration, a median of 3.4 years.

was the median total duration of frequent vasomotor symptoms among African American women, the longest of any racial or ethnic group in SWAN⁵

is how long hot flashes can continue after menopause⁶

of women going through perimenopause say they have problems with memory or trouble focusing⁶

more likely: women were to have a major depressive episode when perimenopausal or early postmenopausal than when premenopausal⁷

SWAN Pittsburgh site, 221 women. The effect was independent of a history of major depression and of hot flashes.

of US postmenopausal women with vulvar and vaginal atrophy symptoms reported vaginal dryness, the most common symptom⁸

REVIVE online survey of 3,046 US postmenopausal women with symptoms; 44% reported pain with intercourse and 37% reported irritation.

of postmenopausal women with vulvar and vaginal atrophy symptoms said the symptoms affected their enjoyment of sex⁸

Only 24% of participants attributed their symptoms to menopause.

of employed women aged 45 to 60 reported at least one adverse work outcome due to menopause symptoms⁹

Mayo Clinic survey of 4,440 employed women receiving primary care, conducted March to June 2021.

of employed women aged 45 to 60 missed work in the preceding 12 months because of menopause symptoms⁹

Those who missed work missed a median of 3 days.

is the estimated annual loss in the United States from workdays missed due to menopause symptoms⁹

more likely: women with the most severe menopause symptoms were to report an adverse work outcome than women with the mildest symptoms⁹

Highest vs lowest quartile of Menopause Rating Scale scores.

adjusted presenteeism (reduced productivity while at work) among employed postmenopausal women with severe vasomotor symptoms, vs 4.33% with mild symptoms¹⁰

From the 2010 US National Health and Wellness Survey; women with moderate symptoms had adjusted presenteeism of 14.3%.

is the incremental indirect (work productivity loss) cost per woman per year associated with untreated vasomotor symptoms¹¹

Insurance claims analysis of 252,273 women with untreated symptoms (1999-2011) vs matched controls. They had 57% more work productivity loss days and $1,346 higher direct medical costs per year.

of US postmenopausal women were using menopausal hormone therapy in 2020, down from 26.9% in 1999¹²

NHANES prescription data on 13,048 postmenopausal women, 1999 to March 2020.

of commercially insured and Medicare Advantage women aged 40 and older used systemic hormone therapy in 2023, down from 4.4% in 2007¹³

OptumLabs claims; use defined as at least 180 days of filled prescriptions in a year.

of women with moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms had never been prescribed a treatment despite access to healthcare¹⁴

REALISE study of physician-reported data on women in the United States and five European countries, 2020.

of US postmenopausal women with vulvar and vaginal atrophy symptoms were using vaginal prescription therapies⁸

56% had ever discussed their symptoms with a healthcare professional, and 29% used over-the-counter vaginal products.

of US family medicine, internal medicine and OB-GYN residents said they felt adequately prepared to manage women experiencing menopause¹⁵

2017 survey with 177 respondents to this question; 20.3% reported receiving no menopause lectures during residency.

is the year the FDA approved Veozah (fezolinetant), the first neurokinin 3 receptor antagonist approved to treat moderate to severe menopausal hot flashes⁴

Approved May 12, 2023. Veozah is not a hormone.