What is the menopause?

The menopause refers to that stage in every woman’s life when she permanently stops having menstrual periods and her ovaries lose their reproductive function. This stage signals the end of a woman's ability to have children. Women are said to have gone through the menopause when they have not had a period for one year.

Menopause is defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the permanent cessation of menstruation and a decrease in the levels of ovarian steroid hormones (estrogen and progesterone), which is a critical period that marks the end of reproductive ability.

The age you experience the menopause can vary, but it typically occurs in your late 40s or early 50s. Early menopause (before the age of 45) may occur for medical reasons, including surgery (for example, removal of the ovaries with or without a hysterectomy), chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In a few exceptional cases, women may become menopausal in their 30s, or even younger. This is known as a premature menopause, or premature ovarian insufficiency (POI).