The word ‘menopause’ comes from ‘meno’, meaning your menstrual cycle, and ‘pause’, meaning to stop. The medical definition of menopause is when you have not had your monthly period for at least 12 months.
However, menopause is commonly used as a catch-all term to encompass perimenopause and the symptoms that come from the changes in hormone levels, whether this comes naturally or through illness or treatment.
Key menopause facts
- The average age of a person going through a natural menopause is 51-years-old, but it can happen at any time.
- If you’re younger than 45, it is called an early menopause.
- Before the age of 40, it is known as a premature menopause, or Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI).
- By the age of 54, 80% of women will have stopped having periods.
Symptoms of the menopause are the same as those of the perimenopause. There are around 35 symptoms, with some that are more commonly experienced. However, not all changes in your body and well-being at this time may be because of your menopause. As such, it’s important to consider your wider health and seek medical advice.