Illustration by Emma Günther
Menopause is hereditary: here's the latest research
Talk to your mom about her menopause experience, because it could be yours, too.
Top things to know
Half of women and people with cycles will experience menopause around the same age as their mothers
Symptoms of perimenopause, like hot flashes and night sweats, appear to have a genetic link
Environmental factors, like smoking and stress, can shift menopausal age earlier
Looking for clues as to when you’ll reach perimenopause or menopause and what you can expect? Try calling your mom.
The latest research shows that while predicting the age you will reach perimenopause and menopause is not an exact science (yet!), we’re getting closer. In fact, the age your mother started perimenopause may give you some clues (1). Half of all women and people with cycles will experience menopause around the same time as their mothers and experience similar symptoms during this life change (1).
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What is perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the time period before menopause, the point at which one hasn’t had a menstrual period for a full year (2). It is also known as the menopausal transition (3). Perimenopause has two stages: early perimenopause and late perimenopause. Early perimenopause typically starts in the mid-40s (4), but it can also start earlier or later. This phase lasts about eight years and is marked by unpredictable menstrual cycles and symptoms like hot flashes and sleep changes (5). Late perimenopause lasts one to three years and is marked by heightened symptoms and cycles that last two months or more due to infrequent ovulation (5).
Menopause marks the end of perimenopause and happens on average at age 51, but most people reach it anywhere between ages 45–55 (6-9). About four in 10 women reach menopause by age 50, and nine in ten will have reached it by age 55 (10).
Perimenopause experiences can look very different for everyone, and it can last a few months to over a decade (5). During perimenopause, reproductive hormones like estrogen and progesterone fluctuate and then decline (2,5). Experiences of perimenopause vary widely. During perimenopause, you may notice changes in your body (11) like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and changes to cycle length and period flow (2).
While every woman and person with ovaries will go through perimenopause, each person’s experience will be different. Want to know more about the link between your mother’s experience with menopause and your own? Here’s the latest research below.
Menopausal age is hereditary
The age you reach menopause may be a trait you inherit from your mom (1). On average, daughters reach menopause about one year earlier than their mothers, meaning that some reached it earlier, and some later (1). One study found that about half of the 164 daughters surveyed reached menopause approximately one year before their mothers (1). Researchers believe that the similarities are caused by genetics, similarities in environment, or some combination of both (10).
Some people experience early or premature menopause, which is when someone reaches menopause before the age of 40 (12). Your mother’s experience could determine if you may be more likely to reach menopause earlier, as early and premature menopause can run in families (12).
Your mother’s experience isn’t the only one in your family that may help predict the age you’ll reach menopause. If your sister, aunt, or other relatives reached menopause early, your likelihood of experiencing early menopause may also be higher (12). According to one study, around one in three women who had early menopause had a family history of early menopause (12). In fact, you’re six times more likely to have early or premature menopause if your mother or siblings experienced it (12).
Knowing your chance of premature menopause may be important to you if you wish to prevent or plan a pregnancy. Fertility begins to decline by age 30 and declines faster by the time a person reaches their mid-30s (13). By age 45, fertility declines significantly and becoming pregnant without assistance becomes less likely (13). For people who undergo premature menopause, this decline in fertility also happens earlier.
Perimenopausal experiences may also be hereditary
The symptoms you experience may also be similar to your mom’s and other relatives who have experienced perimenopause and menopause; research has shown that hot flashes are associated with specific genes (15). Aunts, sisters, and grandmothers may have similar experiences, too (12,14). Other research has also shown that certain genes make some people more susceptible to hot flashes if they smoke (16).
Age is also related to perimenopausal symptoms. As you age during perimenopause and time passes, you are more likely to experience vasomotor symptoms, a group of symptoms that include hot flashes, night sweats, and cold sweats (17). So, if you go through perimenopause around the same age as your mom, you may experience similar symptoms.
Other factors that can have an impact
Some lifestyle factors can affect the age at which someone reaches menopause:
Smoking is associated with an earlier onset and shorter duration of perimenopause (18).
A higher BMI is associated with a later onset of perimenopause but does not affect the duration of perimenopause (18).
Some conditions that cause stress are hereditary (19). High levels of daily stress are associated with reaching menopause at an earlier age (20).
Some of the likelihood of experiencing certain perimenopausal symptoms is linked to external conditions that are likely to be systemic; lower education level attainment, for instance, is associated with a higher chance of vasomotor symptoms (17). While the link between perimenopause experiences and education isn't fully understood, it is thought that lower levels of education are associated with lower economic status and an increased risk of chronic stress and poor nutrition (18), which can all increase one’s likelihood of developing vasomotor symptoms during menopause.
Conclusion
While predicting the age you will reach perimenopause and menopause is not an exact science (yet!), knowing when you might reach this stage in your life can be useful for several reasons, including helping you feel prepared for the future and allowing you to understand your cycle and fertility better.
Still, when it comes to the experience of perimenopause, it’s important to remember you only share half of your mom’s genes. And there may have been less knowledge and awareness around perimenopause symptom management when your mom was going through this transition.
Perimenopause is still, unfortunately, a taboo topic. The more we speak about it, the more we can help remove the stigma surrounding it. All people with cycles will get to this point in life, but there is still low awareness, support, and often shame surrounding it.
Clue can assist you in tracking your symptoms so you can get to know your “normal” and notice the first sign that something may have changed. If you think you might be in perimenopause, we have articles that provide further information and support in the Content Tab. If any of your symptoms start to affect your quality of life, it is a good idea to contact your healthcare provider.
FAQs
What causes perimenopause?
Perimenopause is a natural process that all women and people with ovaries will experience as they age. During perimenopause, reproductive hormones like estrogen and progesterone fluctuate and then decline (2,5). The declining hormone levels lead to experiences like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and changes to cycle length and period flow (2).
Will I have the same perimenopause symptoms as my mom?
Half of all women and people with cycles will experience similar perimenopause symptoms as their mothers (1). Research has shown that hot flashes, for example, are associated with specific genes (15).
When will I start perimenopause?
There are many factors that influence when you start perimenopause. One study showed that half of the women surveyed reached menopause approximately one year before their mothers had (1). However, there are also environmental factors such as smoking, higher BMI, and stress that have been found to influence when you start perimenopause (18-20).
