Menopause is a normal condition that women go through when their periods stop permanently.
Menopause is diagnosed after you haven't had a period for at least 12 months in a row. Most people go through menopause between the ages of 45 and 55.
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Menopause is a normal condition involving the end of menstrual cycles. It's sometimes called "the change of life."
Menopause is a diagnosis that is reached retrospectively (by looking back). You've reached menopause when you haven't had a period or spotting for 12 months in a row.
Once you reach menopause, your periods stop permanently, and you can no longer get pregnant.
Every person born with female reproductive organs will go through menopause.
The average age for menopause in the U.S. is 52. However, menopause may also be brought on by undergoing a hysterectomy (the surgical removal of the uterus and cervix) or surgical removal of the ovaries.
Menopause doesn't happen all at once. Most women experience symptoms of menopause for several years before their final period. Perimenopause is the process of change that leads up to menopause.
As your body transitions to menopause over time, you may have menopause symptoms and irregular periods. These symptoms happen because your ovaries make only very low levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone after menopause. These hormonal changes can affect your mood and create a variety of physical symptoms.
In the natural menopause process, your ovaries stop releasing eggs and making the hormones estrogen and progesterone. When this occurs, you stop having a period and are no longer fertile.
Menopause also can be caused by the surgical removal of the ovaries or following chemotherapy or hormone therapy for the treatment of breast cancer.
The menopausal transition may cause a range of mental health problems. Women with a history of clinical depression, premenstrual syndrome, or postpartum depression often are at a higher risk of experiencing depressive symptoms.
If you're experiencing the persistence of any of these symptoms, you should alert your doctor immediately:
Changes in your body in the years before menopause may raise your risk for certain health problems. Low levels of estrogen and other changes related to aging (like gaining weight) can raise your risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, and stroke.
You can’t prevent menopause — it’s a natural part of a woman’s life cycle. But there are ways to manage common symptoms and prevent potential complications.
Healthy lifestyle choices can go a long way, including:
Changes in your menstrual periods are one of the first signs you're approaching menopause.
Your period might:
Until you haven't had a period for 12 months in a row, you're still perimenopausal and can still get pregnant.
For some women, the only sign they’ll get of menopause is their last period. Others have symptoms of menopause.
The most common symptoms of menopause are:
Hormone changes are to blame for vaginal dryness, sudden headaches, and those infamous hot flashes. And hot flashes often are at the root of other symptoms.
A hot flash feels like a sudden wave of intense heat that starts on your face, neck, or chest. It can last for just a minute or a few minutes. Sometimes, hot flashes are severe enough to disrupt your sleep, which in turn leaves you exhausted, moody, and feeling foggy the next day.
The good news is hot flashes — along with the sleep-related problems they bring — tend to go away after menopause. Vaginal changes are a lasting but often treatable part of menopause.
Gradually, you’ll return to feeling like a new version of your old self again.
After menopause, your ovaries make very little estrogen. Low levels of estrogen and progesterone raise your risk for certain health problems after menopause.
Some common health problems after menopause are:
Most women notice the signs and symptoms of menopause without a formal diagnosis from their health care provider.
Although testing to confirm menopause isn't required, there are blood and/or urine tests that your health care provider can run.
These test determine levels of the hormones:
Estradiol decreases around menopause and the ovaries become less responsive to FSH and LH hormones, so the body makes more of these hormones to compensate.
Your provider can use the results of these tests to determine if you are in menopause.
Menopause isn’t a disease that needs treatment. Still, if you find your symptoms are impacting your quality of life, talk to your provider about ways to relieve them. Lifestyle changes often help, but some women may benefit from medications.
Diet and lifestyle measures may help mild hot flashes and sleep problems, reduce the chance of weight gain, and improve your energy.
Lifestyle changes you might consider;
If your symptoms are severe, your doctor may recommend medicines for menopause treatment.
These can include:
Using certain medications for menopause treatment comes with risks, so it’s essential to talk to your provider to weigh the pros and cons.
Last reviewed by a UPMC medical professional on 2024-09-05.
