The menopause marks the end of a woman’s periods, as her hormone levels fall. This will usually occur between the ages of 45 and 55. Officially, the menopause is defined as 12 months after a woman’s last period, meaning that the ovaries have stopped releasing eggs, and she can no longer become pregnant. However, surgical menopause can also occur as a result of the surgical removal of the ovaries.
The menopause has many possible symptoms, which can vary for every woman and can change over time.