What is Menopause?
Menopause is when a woman hasn’t had her period for
12 months. It’s a natural stage of life that all women go through, usually between the ages of 45 and 55.
What causes Menopause?
Before menopause, a woman’s body makes hormones that control periods and prepare for having babies.
These hormones come from the ovaries, which release eggs every month. As women get older, the ovaries slowly stop working and stop releasing eggs. This causes hormone levels to change.
At first, hormone levels can go up and down, causing periods to become irregular. You might miss a period, then get one again later. This stage is called the menopausal transition, and it can last 4–5 years.
Eventually, the ovaries stop working completely, no more eggs are released, and periods stop altogether.
This is a natural process, but every woman’s experience is different.