Breast Cancer Risk Factors: Age at Menopause

Going through menopause at a later age is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer [12-13,17,19,23]. For example, women who go through menopause after age 55 have a higher risk of breast cancer than women who go through menopause at age 45 or younger [12].

A pooled analysis of data from more than 400,000 women found for every year older a woman was at menopause, her breast cancer risk increased by about 3% [19].

Learn about other factors linked to the risk of breast cancer.

Age at menopause, estrogen and breast cancer risk

The increased breast cancer risk linked to an older age at menopause is likely due, at least in part, to the amount of estrogen a woman is exposed to in her life. A higher lifetime exposure to estrogen is related to an increased breast cancer risk [22].

The later a woman goes through menopause, the longer her breast tissue is exposed to estrogens released during her menstrual periods and the greater her lifetime exposure to estrogen.

Learn more about estrogen and breast cancer risk.

For a summary of research studies on menopause and breast cancer, visit the Breast Cancer Research Studies section.

1. Know your risk

Talk with both sides of your family to learn about your family health history.
Talk with a health care provider about your risk of breast cancer.

2. Get screened

Talk with a health care provider about which screening tests are right for you if you’re at higher risk.
Have a mammogram every year starting at age 40 if you’re at average risk.*
Have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years starting at age 25, and every year starting at age 40.*

* Per National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines

3. Know what is normal for you

See a health care provider if you notice any of these breast changes:

Lump, hard knot or thickening inside the breast or underarm area
Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening of the breast
Change in the size or shape of the breast
Dimpling or puckering of the skin
Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
Pulling in of the nipple or other parts of the breast
Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
New pain in one spot that doesn’t go away

To see illustrations of these warning signs, please visit the Warning Signs of Breast Cancer page.

4. Make healthy lifestyle choices

Maintain a healthy weight.
Make exercise part of your routine.
Limit alcohol intake.
Limit menopausal hormone therapy (postmenopausal hormone use).
Breastfeed if you can.

Updated 12/17/24

This content is regularly reviewed by an expert panel including researchers, practicing clinicians and patient advocates.

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