More than 50% of American women aged 30-35 are now experiencing early symptoms of the menopause, according to a new study. This isn’t normal, and it’s not funny either. In fact, it’s part of a broader decline in fertility that has the potential to make reproduction all-but impossible for the human race. First, a bit of basic science: the menopause, sometimes referred to as “the climacteric,” is when adult women stop having periods for good. It typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55; the average age in the US a decade ago was 51. It’s a natural change and marks the end of a woman’s ability to conceive. A new survey, commissioned by researchers from Flo Health and the University of Virginia, looked at around 4,500 women, and found that half of all women in the 30-35 age bracket reported experiencing symptoms of early menopause or “perimenopause,” to give the condition its technical name. Over 55% of 30-35 year olds reported “moderate to severe” symptoms, increasing to 64.3% in women between the ages of 36 and 40.
