When does the menopause end?

[Fivefootnowt]

I'm new to Mumsnet but read on one of these threads that "When your periods stop you are in menopause for the rest of your life" ... as I am waking up two or three times in the night with hot flushes, I hope to goodness that isn't true?

[ExitPursuedByABear]

I think it might be for some people - sorry.

I had hot flushes and night sweats for a few months last year, then they stopped and I thought "Well, that wasn't too bad". But they have come back with a vengeance in the last few weeks

My friend's mum is still having night sweats in her late 70s.

Tis pants.

[Bluepetticoat]

When your periods stop for at least a year under age 50 or for 2 years after age 50 then you are in what is called the "post meno" part of life- and you stay there for good:)

[Bluepetticoat]

Or is your question more about how long do the symptoms last?

meno symptoms happen when your body is winding down from fertile to infertile.

These symptoms can last for 5 -10 years before your last ever period, to 5-20 years after.

[ExitPursuedByABear]

But you might still get sweats/flushes