Menopause Overview

Menopause is a natural part of a woman's life cycle. When a woman has passed through menopause, her monthly periods end and she no longer can get pregnant naturally. While menopause is challenging both emotionally and physically, many women welcome the new kind of life that menopause brings, with freedom from pregnancy and additional child-raising responsibilities. In the United States, the average age of menopause is 51 in non-smokers, 49 in smokers, and can range from ages 47 to 55.

The changes of menopause begin when your ovaries, the organs that form eggs, no longer produce eggs. Their production of female hormones decreases at this time too. Hormones are chemicals secreted by endocrine system glands, or organs, that travel through the blood to another organ, where they produce a specific effect on some bodily process. Two hormones made in the ovaries - estrogen and progesterone - help to regulate a woman's monthly period.

As you approach mid-life, estrogen begins to drop to low levels. The reproductive organs gradually shut down, just as they gradually became active during puberty. Most women notice that their periods become lighter, farther apart and then eventually, they end.

The menopausal transition may take from one to 10 years, and during that time hormone levels are likely to fluctuate widely. Some months you may have a period; other months you may not. During this time, you may still be able to get pregnant.

Menopause typically happens gradually, over time. The onset of menopause may occur suddenly for reasons such as the removal of both ovaries, radiation or chemotherapy, gland disorders, or a sudden, severe illness.