Q&A with Marla Ahlgrimm: When Menopause Strikes Early

“When will I reach menopause?” This is a question many women contemplate, says women’s health expert and pharmacist, Marla Ahlgrimm. While there is no predetermined age at which a woman will enter menopause, certain factors may accelerate it, says Ahlgrimm.

Q: What does the term “early menopause” refer to?

Marla Ahlgrimm: The average age for menopause in the United States is 51. Generally, most women experience menopause between the ages of 40 and 60. Early menopause usually refers to cases where menopause starts before the age of 40.

Q: What causes early menopause?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Sometimes there is a medical reason for early menopause. Women who have had a surgery such as hysterectomy or experience breast cancer may enter early menopause. When there’s no obvious medical reason for early menopause, the cause often lies in a woman’s genes, sometimes in her lifestyle.