Menopause, gently explained
Menopause is the point when your periods stop for good because your ovaries no longer release eggs or make much estrogen. It's confirmed after 12 months in a row with no period. The average age is 51, and most people reach it between 45 and 55. Symptoms like hot flushes, poor sleep and mood changes often start years earlier, in perimenopause.
Perimenopause, menopause, postmenopause
People use 'menopause' to mean the whole transition, but doctors use three words:
| Term | What it means | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|
| Perimenopause | The years of changing cycles and symptoms before periods stop | Usually starts mid-40s; lasts about 4 years on average, up to 10 |
| Menopause | A single point: 12 months after your last period | Average age 51 (US average 52) |
| Postmenopause | Everything after that point | The rest of life |
The WHO notes natural menopause generally happens between 45 and 55. Menopause before 45 is called early menopause, and before 40 premature menopause (also called premature ovarian insufficiency); both deserve a doctor's input. Menopause can also happen after surgery to remove the ovaries, or after some cancer treatments.
What changes in your body
As the ovaries wind down, estrogen falls to low, steady levels and progesterone is no longer made. Periods stop, and so does the monthly hormone rhythm. That brings some relief, no more periods or PMS, but low estrogen affects other parts of the body too:
- Hot flushes and night sweats, often most intense around the final period; for many they ease over the following years.
- Sleep can stay disrupted, partly from night sweats.
- Vaginal and urinary changes: dryness, discomfort during sex, more frequent or urgent peeing, more urinary infections. These tend to continue unless treated.
- Bones: ACOG notes bone loss speeds up in the first 4 to 8 years after menopause, raising the risk of osteoporosis.
- Heart: the protective effect of estrogen on blood vessels fades, so heart health becomes more important to look after.
- Skin, hair and weight: drier skin, thinning hair and more weight around the middle are common.
The NHS says menopause symptoms last about 7 to 9 years on average, and sometimes longer. See the full list in menopause symptoms.
Menopause and your mood
Mood often has a hard time during the transition: anxiety, irritability, low mood and brain fog are common in perimenopause and around the final period, when hormones swing most. For many people, mood steadies once hormones settle at their new, lower level after menopause. People who had strong PMS find the end of monthly swings a real relief. Others find low mood or anxiety continues, often tied to poor sleep, and it's worth treating rather than waiting out.
Life in this decade can be full: work, teenagers, ageing parents. It helps to give yourself permission to take symptoms seriously and ask for help. Read perimenopause mood swings for the earlier stage.
What helps
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): the most effective treatment for hot flushes and night sweats, and it helps protect bones. It can also help mood and sleep. For most people under 60, NICE guidance says the benefits usually outweigh the risks, but a doctor will look at your own situation.
- Vaginal estrogen: a very low-dose local treatment for dryness and urinary symptoms, safe for most people, including many who can't take HRT.
- Non-hormonal options: some medicines reduce flushes; CBT helps with flushes, sleep and low mood.
- Strength and weight-bearing exercise: protects bones and muscles and lifts mood.
- Heart and bone checks: blood pressure, cholesterol, and calcium and vitamin D intake.
- Practical cooling: layers, a fan, a cooler bedroom, and noticing triggers like alcohol and caffeine.
You can still get pregnant until menopause is confirmed. The NHS advises contraception for 2 years after your last period if you're under 50, or 1 year if you're 50 or over.
How tracking helps around menopause
Because menopause is only confirmed looking back, a record of your last periods is genuinely useful: it tells you when the 12-month count started and gives your doctor a clear picture. Logging flushes, sleep and mood alongside shows which symptoms matter most and whether treatment is helping. See how to track perimenopause.
Lulu's perimenopause mode keeps your periods, symptoms and daily mood together, so you can see when your last period was and how you've been feeling since.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if symptoms affect your daily life, if you have menopause symptoms before 45, or if your periods stop before 40. Always get checked for any bleeding after menopause (12 months or more after your last period), even spotting: it's often harmless but can occasionally be a sign of endometrial cancer, which is very treatable when found early. If low mood is affecting your life, talk to a doctor.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average age of menopause?
About 51, with most people reaching it between 45 and 55. See what age do periods stop.
How do I know I've reached menopause?
When you've had no period for 12 months in a row, without another cause like pregnancy or medication. See how to know menopause.
How long do menopause symptoms last?
Around 7 to 9 years on average, according to the NHS, and longer for some people.
Is bleeding after menopause normal?
No. Any bleeding 12 months or more after your last period should be checked by a doctor.
Does menopause affect mood?
It can, mostly in the years around the final period. For many people mood steadies afterward.
Sources
- WHO: Menopause fact sheet
- ACOG: The Menopause Years
- NICE: Menopause: identification and management (NG23)
- Office on Women's Health: Menopause basics
- NHS: Menopause symptoms
This page is for information only and isn鈥檛 medical advice. If something worries you, please talk to a doctor.
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