Every woman will go through the menopause, but each experience of it is different.
It doesn’t happen at a particular age or last for a fixed period of time, and it can cause a variety of different symptoms, both physical and emotional. The menopause can be an unsettling time in a woman’s life, while some women go through it with no problems.
The menopause is the time when a woman’s monthly periods stop. The word menopause comes from the Greek words "menos", meaning month, and "pausos", meaning an ending. It happens because as women age they slowly run out of eggs. Some scientists believe this happens to protect women and their children from the dangers of late childbearing.
The average age women go through the menopause is 52, but a woman could start to experience menopausal symptoms between the ages of 45 and 55.
Medical conditions can cause the menopause to happen significantly earlier, sometimes in a woman’s 20s or, in extreme cases, in childhood. This is known as premature ovarian failure (POF).
Changes in hormone levels can produce different symptoms. It is estimated that 70% of women experience the most common symptoms of hot flushes and night sweats. Some women also report psychological symptoms, including depression, tiredness, lack of energy and a reduced interest in sex.
Long-term effects of the menopause include increased risk of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.
Osteoporosis
Bone strength depends on bone tissue density and structure. Reduced amounts of minerals in the bone and slower production or replacement of bone cells weakens bones.
This happens to everybody as they age but the change is faster in women after the menopause. This is why one in three women has osteoporosis compared with only one in twelve men. Osteoporosis increases the risk of breaking bones, especially those in the wrist, hip or spine. One in seven British women breaks a hip after the menopause.
Cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease is any disease of the heart or blood vessels, including heart attacks and strokes, usually caused by blocked arteries. It is the most common cause of death in women over 60 and there is evidence to suggest that women are more likely to get blocked arteries after the menopause.
Hormone replacement therapy
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help protect women from osteoporosis, replacing the oestrogen lost during the menopause and, therefore, protecting bones.
HRT is also good at controlling menopausal symptoms, but it can slightly increase the risk of developing conditions such as breast cancer and deep vein thrombosis. Changing your diet and doing more exercise could also help.
Find out more about HRT.
