Menopause

The menopause is when a woman no longer has a period and is no longer able to get pregnant naturally. Menstruation can sometimes stop suddenly when reaching the menopause, but it is more likely that periods will become less frequent, with longer intervals in between each one before stopping altogether.

The average age for women to reach the menopause is 52 in the UK, although women can experience the menopause at 30 or 40. When a woman experiences the menopause under the age of 45 it is known as premature menopause.

Causes

Menopause is caused by a change in the balance of the body’s sex hormones. In the lead up to the menopause oestrogen levels decrease, causing the ovaries to stop producing an egg each month. Oestrogen is the female sex hormone that regulates a woman’s periods. The fall in oestrogen also causes both physical and emotional symptoms including hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings, and vaginal dryness.

Treatment

Most women do not need treatment but treatments are available if symptoms are severe and interfere with your day to day life. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a common treatment, helping to relieve menopausal symptoms by replacing oestrogen. HRT is available in many forms including tablets, creams, gels, skin patches, or implants.