What Is Menopause and How Long Does Menopause Actually Last?

If you've ever wondered “How long does menopause actually last?”, you're not alone.

There isn't a lot of good education out there about how long menopause lasts. Quite frankly, the hormone education available to women right now is not great.

So let's clear up one important misconception.

Menopause doesn't end.

Menopause lasts forever.

When you reach menopause, your ovaries have run out of eggs. You're no longer cycling, and you're no longer able to become pregnant.

That means you're in menopause until the day you wake up in heaven.

I know that may sound surprising, especially if you've been told that menopause is something you'll eventually “get through.”

But that's not how I explain it to my patients.

Menopause vs. post-menopause

You may hear the terms menopausal and post-menopausal used differently, but in my practice, we use them synonymously.

They're describing the same state of being.

Once your ovaries have run out of eggs and you're no longer cycling, you're in menopause. You don't simply finish menopause a few years later and return to the way your hormones were before.

That's why understanding what menopause actually means matters.

And please don't let someone tell you to just “tough it out.”

If someone in your life such as a primary care provider, your OBGYN, a friend, or anyone else tells you “Suck it up, buttercup. Just get tougher.”

Or gives you the impression that you're going to simply “work your way out of” menopause, I don't believe that's the message women need to hear.

You're not waiting for menopause to be over.

You're in menopause.

And understanding that is an important part of understanding your health.

So, how long does menopause last?

My answer is simple:

Forever.

When your ovary runs out of eggs and you're no longer cycling, you are in menopause until the day you wake up in heaven.

If you've been confused about what menopause actually means or how long it lasts, I hope this clears that up.

And if you're experiencing changes and have questions about your hormones, don't assume you simply have to accept them. Let's figure out what's going on.

Visit Anderson Integrative Medicine to learn more about personalized hormone and functional medicine care.