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Average age of menopause in the United States
Menopause is reached after 12 consecutive months without a period. The usual age range is 45 to 58.
Source: Office on Women's Health, Menopause basics ↗Updated April 2, 2026Selah Health reference
Menopause &
Perimenopause
Statistics
A clear, sourced reference for the numbers behind menopause symptoms, sleep changes, hot flashes, and night sweats in the United States.
Last updated October 9, 2026
What these numbers show
Useful context for a transition that does not look the same for everyone.
Menopause is common, but the timing, symptoms, and care needs can be deeply individual. These statistics are here to make reliable information easier to find, quote, and share. They are not a diagnosis or a substitute for care that considers your health history and what you are experiencing.
Each number below links to the source it comes from. Source dates are shown so this page remains useful as newer research becomes available.
The statistics
13 menopause and perimenopause facts to cite.
45–58
Usual age range for menopause
The timing of menopause varies. Family history and individual health context can matter.
Source: Office on Women's Health, Menopause basics ↗Updated April 2, 20269 years
Average time menopause symptoms may last
Symptoms can begin during the years leading up to menopause and may continue after periods stop.
Source: Office on Women's Health, Menopause basics ↗Updated April 2, 202614 years
How long symptoms may last for some people
This is an upper range reported by the Office on Women's Health, not a prediction for any one person.
Source: Office on Women's Health, Menopause basics ↗Updated April 2, 202656.0%
Perimenopausal women ages 40–59 who slept under seven hours
This figure comes from a 2015 U.S. health survey and reflects average sleep in a 24-hour period.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Sleep duration and sleep quality among adults: United States, 2015 ↗Data Brief No. 286, August 201724.7%
Who reported trouble falling asleep four or more times in the past week
The same U.S. survey found this among perimenopausal women ages 40–59.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Sleep duration and sleep quality among adults: United States, 2015 ↗Data Brief No. 286, August 201730.8%
Who reported trouble staying asleep four or more times in the past week
Sleep disruption is common in midlife, but it still deserves attention when it affects daily life.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Sleep duration and sleep quality among adults: United States, 2015 ↗Data Brief No. 286, August 20177.4 years
Median duration of frequent hot flashes or night sweats
This result came from 1,449 women with frequent symptoms in a long-running study across seven U.S. sites.
Source: Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, Duration of menopausal vasomotor symptoms over the menopause transition ↗JAMA Internal Medicine, April 20154.5 years
Median time frequent hot flashes or night sweats continued after the final period
This finding is among women in the study who had an observable final menstrual period.
Source: Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, Duration of menopausal vasomotor symptoms over the menopause transition ↗JAMA Internal Medicine, April 2015More than half
Who experienced frequent hot flashes or night sweats for over seven years
This reflects the study group, not every person's experience. Symptoms and treatment needs vary widely.
Source: Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, Duration of menopausal vasomotor symptoms over the menopause transition ↗JAMA Internal Medicine, April 2015~2–8 years
Typical length of the perimenopause transition
The Office on Women’s Health describes perimenopause as the time before menopause when symptoms may begin. The transition usually starts around the mid-40s.
Source: Office on Women's Health, Navigating the Road to Menopause ↗May 10–16, 202622.3%
U.S. adults ages 50–64 with trouble staying asleep most days or every day
This 2024 national estimate is not specific to menopause. It provides current context for a sleep concern that can overlap with the menopause transition.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Short Sleep Duration and Sleep Difficulties Among Adults: United States, 2024 ↗Data Brief No. 559, April 29, 202618.5%
U.S. women with trouble falling asleep most days or every day
This 2024 national estimate is for women overall, not just people in perimenopause. Sleep changes can have many causes and deserve individualized care when they are disruptive.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Short Sleep Duration and Sleep Difficulties Among Adults: United States, 2024 ↗Data Brief No. 559, April 29, 2026Read the numbers carefully
Research can show patterns. It cannot tell you exactly what your body will do.
Some of the figures above come from broad U.S. survey data, while others come from a long-term research study of women with frequent hot flashes or night sweats. Those are different groups, and the figures should not be applied as a personal forecast.
New or disruptive changes in periods, sleep, mood, temperature regulation, vaginal comfort, or daily energy are worth discussing with a clinician. Bleeding after menopause, very heavy bleeding, chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting, or other urgent symptoms need timely medical attention.
Explore menopause care →Methodology and sources
How this reference is maintained.
This page uses public health guidance, national survey data, and peer-reviewed research. Selah Health reviews it regularly and updates a figure when a source is replaced, revised, or superseded by better evidence. Statistics drawn from broader adult or women’s health surveys are identified as context, not as menopause-specific estimates.
- Office on Women's Health, Menopause basicsUpdated April 2, 2026
- National Center for Health Statistics, Sleep duration and sleep quality among adults: United States, 2015Data Brief No. 286, August 2017
- Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, Duration of menopausal vasomotor symptoms over the menopause transitionJAMA Internal Medicine, April 2015
- Office on Women's Health, Navigating the Road to MenopauseMay 10–16, 2026
- National Center for Health Statistics, Short Sleep Duration and Sleep Difficulties Among Adults: United States, 2024Data Brief No. 559, April 29, 2026
Cite this page
Selah Health. “Menopause & Perimenopause Statistics.” Updated October 9, 2026.
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