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What Is The Menopause?

EveryWoman Health | What Is The Menopause?

Every woman will experience the menopause at some stage in her life and the word is derived from the Greek: Menos (Periods) and Pausos (Stopping).

There are different ways by which the menopause can occur however, the natural menopause is the most common and refers to the gradual process where the ovaries slowly stop producing eggs which in turn leads to a decline in female hormones (oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone) until periods stop altogether. 

The Terminology

  • Perimenopause: This is the duration of time before a woman’s periods stop altogether; where she experiences menopausal symptoms but continues to have periods. The perimenopause can last for several years.  
  • Postmenopause:  A woman is said to be in the postmenopause 12 months after her last period.
  • Premature ovarian insufficiency: This when periods stop before the age of 40 years. 
  • Early Menopause: This is when periods stop before the age of 45 years.
  • Natural Menopause: This is when periods stop naturally, without any intervention or treatment and is the type of menopause that most women experience. 
  • Surgical Menopause: This is when periods stop following the surgical removal of the ovaries (oophorectomy) which causes an abrupt fall in hormones and tends to cause more severe menopausal symptoms.  
  • Chemical Menopause: This is when periods stop following certain treatments which can be reversible or irreversible (e.g. chemotherapy).

When Does it Happen?

The average age of onset of the menopause in the UK is 51 years but it can occur in much younger age-groups. The Daisy Network (2021) reports that premature ovarian sufficiency (when periods stop before the age of 40 years) affects:

  • 1 in every 100 women under the age of 40
  • 1 in 1,000 women under 30 
  • 1 in 10,000 under 20

What Are The Symptoms?

* PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LIST OF SYMPTOMS IN THE IMAGE ABOVE IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE – THERE ARE MANY OTHER SYMPTOMS!

The symptoms of the menopause can begin several years before your periods finally stop. 80% of women experience menopausal symptoms, of which 25% are affected severely. The most well-known symptoms are hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings and vaginal dryness however these are not exclusive to the menopause and equally, do not always occur in every woman. 

There are many other non-specific symptoms that women experience that overlap with other conditions and this can often lead to a delayed diagnosis. The key is to always consider the menopause as a possible diagnosis.