MENOPAUSE

Menopause is the natural occurrence in women where their body ceases to produce the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, this marks the end of a women's fertility and reproductive years. As you approach menopause the production of hormones from your ovaries begins to slow down, this may cause you periods to become irregular, your cycle to become irregular and your periods lighter or even heavier. Once a women has not had a period for 12 months they have completed menopause. The average age the women to experience menopause is 51, most women reach menopause between 45 and 55 years of age. 

Although fertility after 45 years is very low it is still possible to fall pregnant during menopause, if you do not wish to fall pregnant during this time it is advisable to use contraception.

Early Menopause

Menopause before the age of 45 is called 'early menopause' and before the age of 40 is called 'premature menopause'. Some medical conditions such as autoimmune diseases and genetic conditions can cause premature and early menopause, sometimes when a women is in her 20s or even during childhood. This is known as 'premature ovarian failure'.