TABLE 3.

Distribution of criteria used in classification of menopausal status by attained age and menstrual period status^a

		ATTAINED AGE
		Age 55–64	Age 50–54	Age 40–49	TOTAL
Classification per complex	Qualifying Criteriaa	85 483	54 512	87 705	227 700
definition
POSTMENOPAUSAL:	TOTAL	85 483	25 736	8,763	119 982
	Age ≥55 years	85 483	0	0	85 483
	Natural menopause	49 590	19 475	4,188	73 253
	Both ovaries removed	5,156	2,217	1,481	8,854
	Current hormone therapy use	14 461	7222	4,330	25 653
	≥365 days since last periodb	254	106	32	392
SURGICAL / OTHER
AMENORRHEA:	TOTAL	0	9,214	7,808	17 022
	Surgical menopausec	0	3,774	3,928	7,702
	Other / NOS reason periods stoppedd	0	5,440	3,858	9,298
PERIMENOPAUSAL:	TOTAL	0	5,801	4,948	10 749
	Not sure periods have stopped	0	5,763	4,898	10 661
	180–364 days since last periodb	0	218	152	370
PREMENOPAUSAL:	TOTAL	0	13 761	66 186	79 947
	Still having periods	0	13 761	66 186	79 947
	Current hormonal birth control use	0	1,027	7,946	8,973
	<180 days since last periodb	0	3,683	17 015	20 698

^aQualifying criteria not mutually exclusive within a menopausal status classification.

^bInformation regarding time since last period was available for only a subset of the study population and was used only in the absence of other information to classify menopausal status.

^cExcludes women known to have had a bilateral oophorectomy.

^dNOS = not otherwise specified.