I've never had children. Will my menopause experience be different than women who've had kids?

Menopausal symptoms are tremendously varied, so no two individuals have the identical experience. The emotional impact of menopause can be hard to predict. Whether or not you've had children, the loss of fertility that accompanies menopause can be greatly distressing, or for many, it can be a great relief. The number of pregnancies, whether or not you've breast-fed, how young you were when your periods started, and how old you are when you stop having periods all can contribute to lifelong risks for certain gynecologic conditions such as breast, ovarian and uterine cancer. These factors should be considered when undergoing routine screening. But the overall physical symptoms you experience during menopause will not be tremendously different from those that your peers with children experience.