Menopause, a natural part of the aging process, is defined as the time after 12 months has passed without a menstrual period. This process usually begins 2 to 5 years prior to a woman’s last menstrual period. Every woman experiences menopause differently. There are both physical and psychosocial changes associated with menopause. There is not a set age at which menopause begins. Some women reach menopause as early as their 30s or 40s and some as late as their 60s. Menopause begins most often between the age of 45 and 55.  

Menopause isn’t a single event, but a series of changes that can begin over a period of years as the level of hormones in a woman’s body declines. These hormones, estrogen and progesterone, are produced by the ovaries and regulate the monthly cycles of ovulation and menstruation. A small percentage of estrogen (less than 10 percent) is produced by other organs, so women continue to have low levels of estrogen after menopause.

The phase preceding menopause is called perimenopause. During this time, menopausal symptoms begin, despite continuing ovulation. Hormone levels decline, resulting in hot flashes, vaginal dryness and irregular periods. This process can last for several years.  

Menopause is the period between the beginning and end of symptoms. It is marked by the cessation of a woman’s period—12 consecutive without a menstrual period—and the end of her ability to become pregnant.  

Once a full year has past since her last menstrual period, a woman is considered postmenopausal. The term menopause is often used to include the perimenopausal and postmenopausal stages.  

The majority of women experience natural menopause, but it can also occur as the result of medical treatment. This includes surgical removal of the ovaries, chemotherapy, radiation therapy to the pelvis or abdomen, or certain medications.

 
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