What age does menopause usually occur?

Most women will usually begin perimenopause (irregular periods) sometime in their forties and approximately 2-4 years before menopause begins. Half of all women begin menopause by the age of 50. A woman enters menopause 12 months after she experiences her last menstrual period. Some women begin experiencing symptoms of hormone imbalance at anywhere from their early 30's to their late 40's, depending on several factors related to environment, heredity and how early you started having your period.