The Menopause

The menopause, also called the change of life, is defined as the end of the last menstrual period, however for most women it means a lot more than this.

However, remeber that The Menopause is not a disease it is a phase of life and we have to live with it.

It is the cycle in a woman's life when her ovaries stop producing eggs, when her periods begin to stop and when her hormone levels change. Menopause is something that typically happens between the ages of 47 and 53 but there is a wide range of normal extending from your 30s to 60s. It means hot flushes, no more periods, an end to a woman’s reproductive years - and is a natural part of her life, which for a women in her teens, 20’s, 30’s and early 40’s, should be far in the future.

The term menopause is often used incorrectly. As explained above, menopause means your last menstrual period. The term climacteric more accurately describes the gradual changes and symptoms which occur as the production of hormones and ovarian function diminishes. The process whereby periods stop is a gradual one, in most cases, and is a long process of changes akin to puberty.

The Premenopause

The premenopause is the stage where your periods are still regular but the first symptoms such as night sweats and mood swings may occur. However, sometimes it is used to mean the years of your life when your periods are regular and you are fertile. So make sure you know which meaning the word has in the context you are reading it or being told about it.

The Perimenopause

Perimenopause lasts several years on either side of your last menstrual period. Vague symptoms you may not have connected may become significant when viewed as part of perimenopause. It is during this time that you notice the most physical changes, when your periods may become irregular and hot flushes and night sweats may start. During this stage you are still fertile and may conceive although the chances of getting pregnant are often negligible. Perimenopause is the time during which your ovarian hormones start to change and your egg production is significantly reduced. One of the key indicators of this change is the rise of the Follicle Stimulating Hormone levels.

Postmenopause

The term used to describe the time from after your last menstrual period to the end of your life