What is late onset menopause?
In this article
What's the lowdown?
Menopause marks the day when you haven’t had a period for 12 months
Late onset menopause is when you have reached this point after the age of 55
There are some benefits to late menopause including a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke or osteoporosis
However, late menopause comes with an small increased risk of breast, endometrial and ovarian cancer
What is menopause?
Menopause technically is just one day, the day you have reached the one year period-free mark. Before that you are considered perimenopausal and after you are postmenopausal. The average age of menopause in the UK is 51 years old.
Perimenopause can start around your late 40s or early 50s but there is no set time for how long you will be in perimenopause for1. It could last months or even years. During this time your oestrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate as your ovarian function starts declining.
Menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, fatigue and vaginal dryness can even creep into the post-menopausal phase.
What is late onset menopause?
Most women should hit menopause (having no periods for a year) before the age of 55. You are considered to have late menopause if you have been without a period for 12 months by the age of 55. If you have light bleeding or spotting after 12 months with no period this is postmenopausal bleeding and you should see a doctor.
There are no specific signs of late menopause, the only tangible late menopause symptom is the presence of periods after the age of 55. You may or may not have menopausal symptoms with late onset menopause.
Risk factors for late onset menopause
This is a tricky question. There is no agreement about which factors can influence the onset of menopause. Some studies have associated the age of menopause with the onset of your first periods, use of contraception or even the number of times you have been pregnant. Other studies have found that factors like BMI, smoking, drinking alcohol and level of physical activity have an effect on the age of menopause.
Genetic factors seem to influence the age of menopause in about 50% of women. If your mother has entered late menopause, it is more likely you will too. The same goes for early menopause2.
But it is hard to say for sure what determines the age at which we experience menopause. There are too many influencing factors in our life that can all have some impact on menopause.
Are there any benefits to late menopause?
If you go through menopause later, you will have higher levels of oestrogen for longer. As there is a longer exposure to oestrogen, there are some benefits like:
- Lower risk of heart disease
- Lower risk of stroke
- Lower risk of osteoporosis
Oestrogen plays a pivotal role in growing and maturing the bones in our skeleton, as well as regulating our bone turnover. During menopause, as oestrogen levels rapidly decline, our bones get weaker and bone loss speeds up3.
Oestrogen has a protective effect on our blood vessels and heart. It regulates the amount of cholesterol in the body and reduces the risk of fat build up in the arteries which can lead to a stroke or heart attack. With the decline of oestrogen in menopause, these risks increase again4.
With late menopause there is a prolonged exposure of oestrogen in the body, reducing the risks of heart disease, stroke and osteoporosis.
Can late menopause cause cancer?
On the flip side, the prolonged exposure of oestrogen may cause a small increase in some cancers. Late onset menopause is a known risk factor for endometrial (womb), ovarian and breast cancer. Oestrogen stimulates the cells in the womb lining and breast tissue as well as the ovaries. As these tissues are more exposed to oestrogen, the risk of these cancers can increase in late menopause.
However, any increase is small, and this is why it is so important to attend your breast screening appointments and see a doctor if you have any symptoms of womb or ovarian cancer.
When should I contact my GP for late menopause?
If you are nearing the age of 55 and are still experiencing periods, you can check in with your doctor. They may assess you and consider further tests if you have any heavy bleeding or bleeding between periods. However, we are all different, and menopause over the age of 55 might just be your normal!
Dr Fatema Dawoodbhoy
Fatema is currently training in London as an Academic doctor, with a special interest in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She is passionate about championing women to understand their bodies better and prioritise their health. She understands the importance of clinically accurate articles and has been writing engaging and educative medical content for 5 years.
Our medical review process
This article has been medically reviewed for factual and up to date information by a Lowdown doctor.
