When Does Menopause Stop?

Menopause is one stage in the reproductive life of a woman. It occurs when the ovaries stop producing eggs. Although most people think of menopause as an event that occurs over time, according to the National Women's Health Information Center, it is actually just one day---the day a woman has gone a full year without having a period. Menopause can also occur as the result of medical intervention that causes the ovaries to stop producing eggs.

• Am I finished with menopause?

Types

• Menopause occurs naturally as a woman ages. Induced menopause occurs as the result of medical intervention. The primary causes of induced menopause are surgical removal of the ovaries, as in a hysterectomy, and radiation or chemotherapy treatments that cause extensive damage to the ovaries, so they no longer produce eggs.

Time Frame

• Most women, according to the North American Menopause Society, reach natural menopause between the ages of 40 and 58, with the average age being 51. Some women reach menopause as early as 30 and some as late as 60, but these extremes are not common. Induced menopause can take place at any age after the first menstrual period. Surgery-induced menopause is immediate and occurs at the time of the surgery. Early menopause is natural or induced menopause that occurs much earlier than the average age of 51.

Considerations

• Menopause is marked by a single day, but the transition to menopause often lasts for several years. The transition period leading up to menopause is perimenopause. The time after menopause is post-menopause, which lasts for the remainder of a woman's life. Women who experience induced menopause do not go through perimenopause.

Identification

• During the transition period leading to menopause, fluctuating hormones cause many women to experience a variety of symptoms. The most common include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, fatigue, vaginal dryness and difficulty sleeping. Some of these symptoms continue well past menopause.

Effects

• After menopause, a woman can no longer become pregnant. Increased health concerns after menopause include heart disease and osteoporosis, a condition in which the bones become brittle and lose strength.