What is the menopause?

The menopause, often called the change of life, occurs when a woman stops having her monthly period, marking the time when she is no longer fertile.

All women can expect to go through the menopause as they age. It is not a medical condition and is an entirely natural part of life. In the UK, the average age for a women to enter the menopause is 52.

As a woman gets older, she gradually makes less of the female hormone oestrogen. This eventually leads to the end of egg production and her monthly period.

A woman is said to have "officially" reached the menopause when she has not had a period for one year. However, it can take several years for the menopause to occur - known as the perimenopause - during which time women have to deal with the emotional and physical changes which occur as a result of falling hormone levels.

An estimated 80% of women in the UK experience symptoms at this time, and 45% find them difficult to cope with. Understanding what changes a woman is going through at this time is the first step towards helping her through this phase of her life.

This article was published on Wed 16 September 2009