When am I in menopause?

Updated: 29-10-2025

You are around 40 years old, your menstruation has been irregular for some time, and you notice that you sometimes react differently than usual. You wonder: am I in menopause? In this blog, you will read how to recognise the onset of menopause.

If you haven't menstruated for the last 12 months, you can confidently say that your last period has occurred: the menopause. However, the actual transition begins before this. Menopause is a natural process that every woman experiences. As no more eggs mature in the ovaries, the production of the female hormone oestrogen decreases. Oestrogen influences numerous functions in your body, including your heart, blood vessels, bones, head, breasts, and bladder. Thus, your body needs to adjust to the changing oestrogen levels.

These natural changes in your body can cause a reaction in the organs, leading to so-called menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, fatigue, and depressive episodes. Research has shown that 80% of all women experience symptoms during menopause.

The timing of menopause varies for each woman and usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, with outliers from the age of 30 to 70. Menopause lasts on average 5 to 10 years, but can also be over in 1 year.

In Menopause or Not?

Sometimes it is difficult to determine whether your symptoms are due to menopause. Then ask yourself the following questions. Have you...

• experienced irregular menstruation?
• recently suffered from joint or muscle pain?
• perhaps had more mood swings than before?
• experienced more depressive episodes?
• perhaps had a hot flash/sweating episode?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, menopause may have begun for you. Want to know more? Read here about what happens in your body during menopause.

Did you know... women in Asia experience fewer menopausal symptoms?

Epidemiological research has shown that dietary and lifestyle habits can significantly impact the extent of menopausal symptoms. Women in Asian countries appear to suffer much less from menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis (due to decreased hormone levels) than women in European countries. The main reason for this could be the high consumption of soy. Soy contains nutrients (phytoestrogens) that closely resemble female oestrogen and are believed to have a positive effect on menopausal symptoms. Currently, various studies are being conducted on these phytoestrogens, which experts cautiously view as an alternative to regular hormone therapy for mild symptoms.

Note: This article is intended for informational purposes and does not replace medical advice. Always seek advice from your treating physician or another medical expert.

Author: Sanne van der Rijt