Does PCOS Delay Menopause? What Filipinas Need to Know About the “Long Game” of PCOS

When the clock feels different for us

If you’re a woman with PCOS, you’ve probably spent years wondering why your body never seems to follow the usual timeline.

Late periods. Skipped ovulation. The waiting game of fertility.

But here’s a question not many of us think about — will menopause also come late for us?

When I first learned that women with PCOS might experience delayed menopause, I had mixed feelings. On one hand, it sounded like a blessing — “Oh, so I get to keep my hormones a bit longer?” But on the other, it reminded me that PCOS is a lifelong condition, not just a phase.

This blog is for every Filipina asking that same question — “Does PCOS delay menopause?” — and wondering what it means for her body, her health, and her future.

Understanding the basics: What happens during menopause

Menopause is that natural stage when your ovaries finally retire from releasing eggs, and your periods stop for good.
It’s confirmed when you’ve gone 12 months without a menstrual period — no spotting, no delayed cycle, nothing.

In the Philippines, the average age of menopause is around 50 to 51 years old, according to local OB-GYN data.

When this transition begins, estrogen levels drop, the ovaries shrink, and symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep problems often appear.

But for those of us with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) — a condition where our hormones are already out of balance — the story gets more complicated.

PCOS 101: A quick refresher

PCOS affects around 1 in 10 Filipinas, though many go undiagnosed. It’s a hormonal and metabolic condition where the ovaries produce too much androgen (male hormone), often preventing ovulation.

Symptoms include:

Irregular or absent periods
Difficulty getting pregnant
Acne or oily skin
Hair loss or excess facial hair
Weight gain or insulin resistance

While most people think PCOS only matters for fertility, the truth is — it affects us for life.
Even after childbearing years, PCOS continues to influence metabolism, heart health, mood, and even menopause timing.

So, does PCOS actually delay menopause?

The short answer: Yes — for many women, it does.

Several studies show that women with PCOS often reach menopause 2 to 4 years later than average.

For example:

A study published in the Journal of Mid-Life Health found that women with PCOS reached menopause a few years later and had lower serum FSH levels compared to non-PCOS women (LWW Journal, 2021).

A population-based study from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, which followed 1,696 women for 20 years, concluded that PCOS was significantly associated with a later age at natural menopause (PubMed, 2024).

Another study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism estimated that women with PCOS reached menopause around 51.4 years, compared to 49.7 years in controls (PubMed, 2017).

That’s the science — but what does it mean for you and me?

It means that our ovaries may “age” more slowly. We might have more years before menopause — but also more years of hormonal imbalance to manage.

Why menopause might come later if you have PCOS

1. You have a higher ovarian reserve

PCOS is characterized by many small immature follicles that don’t fully develop or release eggs.
Because of that, your ovaries “hold on” to more follicles for a longer time — which delays ovarian depletion, and ultimately, menopause.

A clinical review explains that this “preserved follicular pool” is one reason menopause may occur later in PCOS women (PMC, 2021).

2. You produce more Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH)

Women with PCOS typically have higher AMH levels, which is a marker of egg reserve. The higher it is, the further you are from menopause. This has been consistently shown in longitudinal data.

3. Irregular ovulation means slower egg usage

Since women with PCOS often skip ovulation, fewer eggs are released over time. This naturally extends the life of your ovarian function — leading to later menopause.

The other side: Delayed menopause isn’t always an advantage

At first glance, a later menopause might sound good — more time before hot flashes, fewer mood swings, maybe even longer fertility potential.

But here’s the truth: prolonged exposure to hormones — especially without regular ovulation — can have risks.

🔸 Risk of endometrial thickening

If you go months without ovulating, your uterine lining continues to build up. Over years, this can increase the risk of endometrial hyperplasia or cancer, especially in post-fertility years.

🔸 Extended metabolic strain

Insulin resistance, cholesterol imbalance, and weight gain — all common in PCOS — can persist even after your periods stop. That’s why heart health screening becomes crucial in your 40s and 50s.

🔸 Emotional fatigue

The roller coaster of irregular cycles, weight changes, and body image issues can stretch longer than you expected. Many women with PCOS feel frustrated, thinking menopause will “end it all” — but hormones don’t magically reset.

For Filipinas, the PCOS–menopause link hits differently

In our culture, talking about menopause or infertility still feels taboo.
We whisper about it, we laugh it off, or we stay quiet.

But here’s the thing: knowledge is power.

Understanding that PCOS may delay menopause helps you make better decisions — from fertility planning to preventive healthcare.

🇵🇭 Let’s localize this:

Many Filipinas still don’t have access to regular hormone testing or PCOS screening.
A lot of OB-GYNs focus on short-term fixes (like birth control) rather than long-term management.
Our diet — high in white rice, sweets, and processed carbs — makes insulin resistance worse.
And because family comes first, many of us delay our own medical care.

So when we learn that PCOS might delay menopause, we should see it not as a “curse” but as a reminder to invest in our health for the long haul.

What you can do if you have PCOS (and you’re in your 30s, 40s, or 50s)

Whether menopause is far away or just around the corner, here’s your action plan:

1. Track your cycles — even the irregular ones

Use apps like Clue or Flo, or even a simple notebook. Knowing your cycle pattern helps your doctor detect early signs of perimenopause.

2. Get your hormones checked

Ask your OB-GYN or endocrinologist for tests like AMH, FSH, LH, estradiol, and thyroid panel.
If you’re in Metro Manila, try clinics like St. Luke’s Global, Makati Med Endocrine Center, or The Medical City’s Women’s Health Clinic.

3. Keep your metabolism in check

PCOS + delayed menopause = higher risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Schedule annual blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure checks.

4. Prioritize nutrition

Download the PCOS Millennials Nutrition Guide — it’s free on pcosmillennials.com.
Learn how to balance carbs, eat Filipino-style but healthier, and avoid hormonal triggers.

5. Move your body

Exercise doesn’t need to be fancy. Brisk walking for 30 minutes daily, or dancing with your kids, can stabilize your blood sugar and hormones.

6. Don’t skip your checkups

Even if your period “normalizes” as you age, continue seeing your OB-GYN.
PCOS doesn’t end at menopause — it just changes form.

Real talk: The emotional side of the “delay”

When I found out that PCOS could delay menopause, I laughed a little.
“Of course,” I thought. “Even menopause is delayed for us!”

But beneath that humor was something deeper — the realization that our journey really is lifelong.

For many of us, PCOS already delayed our dreams of motherhood. Now it’s delaying another chapter too. But maybe — just maybe — that’s not all bad.

Because maybe, the extra time is a second chance — to heal, to understand our bodies better, to show compassion to ourselves.

Menopause will come eventually. But while we’re still here, cycling or not, we can choose to live with intention — balancing faith, science, and self-love.

PCOS, menopause, and the faith to wait

If you’ve ever whispered to God, “Lord, when will it all finally settle?”, know that you’re not alone.
Your body may take its time — but there’s beauty in that slowness.

Maybe delayed menopause means your body isn’t giving up on you yet. Maybe it’s an invitation to care for yourself longer, deeper, and kinder.

And when that day finally comes — when your last period quietly says goodbye — you’ll know you’ve walked every step with grace.

So yes, PCOS can delay menopause — but it also teaches patience, self-awareness, and resilience.

Don’t fear the timeline. Embrace it.
Because no matter when menopause comes, you deserve to feel whole, seen, and supported.

Keep learning. Keep sharing. Keep fighting for awareness — for yourself, and for every Filipina who’s still waiting for answers.

If this post spoke to your heart, please share it with another Filipina who might need it.
You can also join an advocacy by PCOSMillennials.com empowering women with PCOS through education, early detection, and community support

Together, we can break the silence around PCOS — from puberty to perimenopause, and beyond.

Subscribe now for updates, stories, and free wellness resources.
Let’s journey together — one cycle, one chapter, one healed woman at a time.

Love, Reese ❤️

References & Supporting Studies

Amiri, M., et al. “Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Menopause in Forty Plus Women.” Journal of Mid-Life Health, 2021. Read on LWW Journal
Ramezani Tehrani, F., et al. “The relationship between polycystic ovary syndrome and age at natural menopause: A 20-year follow-up.” PubMed, 2024. View Study
Akinci, B., et al. “Prediction of age at menopause in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.” Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2017. View Study
“PCOS During the Menopausal Transition and After Menopause.” Systematic Review, 2021. PMC Article
“PCOS and Menopause: What to Expect.” Medical News Today, 2024. Read Article
“PCOS and Menopause.” Healthline, 2024. View Article

PCOS Millennials