What is the Menopause?

The menopause is a natural process that all women will go through at some point in their life and is not something they should ‘dread’.

The menopause, also referred to as ‘the change’, occurs when menstruation stops – or to put it another way, menopause starts when a woman’s periods end. This happens because low levels of the female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone which regulate the monthly periods no longer stimulate the lining of the womb (endometrium) in the normal menstrual cycle. The menopause also marks the end of egg production (ovulation).

A woman’s period will not normally stop suddenly. The odd period might be missed, or they will become less frequent and then, in time will stop altogether. See, there are benefits!

When does the menopause start?

There is no specific age for the change to occur. The average age for a woman to reach the menopause is 52. However it can occur much later or earlier. The menopause can start as early as 35 or as late as 60.

A woman is said to have reached the menopause once she has not had a period for one year. After this point, she can be described as post-menopausal. If the menopause occurs in women who are under 45 years of age, it is known as premature menopause.

For majority of women, the menopause will last no longer than a couple of years. However, some can experience menopausal symptoms for longer periods.

What happens during ‘The Change’?

The time leading up to, and around, the menopause is known as peri-menopause. During this phase, hormonal and biological changes that are associated with the menopause begin to take place.

When the hormones start to change, many women experience both emotional and physical symptoms. The most common of these are hot flushes and night sweats.

Menopausal symptoms affect most women and can begin long before menopause actually sets in. On the other hand, some women may hardly notice ‘the change’, except perhaps with their periods become irregular. Others however may experience a variety of menopausal symptoms.

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