That Time of the Month and That Time of Her Life Something you're likely to inherit from Mom? How her menstrual cycle played out over the course of her life, Northrup says. "The age at which your mother got her first period and the age at which she went through menopause-and if it was a natural menopause-those tend to be consistent from mothers to daughters," Northrup says. If your mother had a premature or early menopause- premature menopause begins before age 40; early menopause begins between ages 40 and 45-you might also be at risk to begin menopause before the typical time, which affects your fertility. Knowing when your mother began menopause helps you plan for children if you want them. Women who undergo premature or early menopause are also at higher risk for heart disease and osteoporosis because of the reduced amount of time their bodies produce estrogen, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' Office on Women's Health. That doesn't mean you will get either of those conditions, Northrup says, but it does mean you might want to take some steps to mitigate them. Most g their irls star t perio betw ds ee 14 y n 12 and ears o ld . The average age for menopause is 51 years old. How old were you? 30 FA L L 2019 PHOTOS BY GETTY IMAGES Sources for notes: National Cancer Institute, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services