What is menopause?

Menopause is the time in life when you stop having monthly periods. This marks the natural end of the reproductive stage of your life.

You have reached menopause when you have gone 12 months without having your period.

Most Australian females experience menopause between 45 and 60 years of age. The average age of menopause is 51 years.

Some females experience premature and early menopause. This may be due to health conditions, such as primary ovarian insufficiency (where your ovaries stop working normally).

Menopause can also occur after surgery to remove your ovaries or uterus, or cancer treatment.

Everyone experiences menopause differently. You may only have minor discomfort, or you may have more severe symptoms. You can have menopausal symptoms for 5 to 10 years.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

Menopausal symptoms often start before your periods stop. Your symptoms may include:

• physical symptoms
• mood and emotional symptoms

Physical symptoms

Some common physical symptoms are:

• irregular periods
• hot flushes and night sweats — are experienced by more than 1 in 2 females
• sleep problems — are experienced by about 1 in 4 people
• exhaustion and fatigue

Other physical symptoms that you may get are:

• sore breasts
• itchy, crawly or dry skin
• headaches or migraines
• aches and pains
• bloating

You may also get bladder, vaginal and vulval problems, such as:

• dry vagina
• loss of libido (sex drive)
• urinary (wee) problems

Mood and emotional health

As you approach menopause, you may notice that you:

• feel you can't cope as well as you used to
• have difficulty concentrating
• are more forgetful
• can be more irritable or frustrated
• feel anxious
• have a low mood or mood swings

Your symptoms may be worse if your menopause is caused by surgery or cancer treatment.

What causes menopause?

Menopause occurs due to a change in your hormones.

Early menopause

You may get early (or premature) menopause. This is when menopause happens before the age of 45 years. It can occur due to:

• medical treatments that stop your ovaries from functioning, such as chemotherapy. or radiotherapy. for cancer
• surgery to remove your ovaries (oophorectomy), for example, to prevent or treat ovarian-cancer or breast cancer
• surgery to remove your uterus (hysterectomy)
• primary ovarian insufficiency due to certain genetic, autoimmune or metabolic conditions

But, the cause of early menopause is often unknown.

When should I see my doctor?

You should speak with your doctor if your menopause symptoms are interfering with your daily life.

You should also see your doctor if you experience vaginal bleeding after not having your period for a year.

Any abnormal bleeding needs to be checked by a doctor.

How is menopause diagnosed?

There isn't a specific test for menopause. Your doctor will help you work out if you are menopausal based on your symptoms and medical history.

Menopause is the time 12 months after your last period. Blood tests aren't usually done unless:

• your doctor suspects that you have early or premature menopause
• you have had a hysterectomy (surgery to remove your uterus)

Your doctor may also suggest other health checks, such as a:

• mammogram
• pelvic examination
• cervical screening test

How is menopause treated?

There is a range of treatments that your doctor might suggest to help you manage menopausal symptoms. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, they may recommend several treatments at one time. Your doctor will work with you to find the best treatment for you. Treatments include:

• hormone replacement therapy
• non-hormone prescription medicine
• lifestyle and behavioural changes
• complementary therapies

Currently, no, complementary medicines, such as supplements and herbs, have enough evidence to prove that they stop menopausal symptoms.

Can menopause be prevented?

Menopause is a life stage and cannot be prevented.

You can read more about life post-menopause here.

What are the complications of menopause?

Menopause occurs alongside a range of metabolic changes that can lead to complications, such as:

• Heart disease — menopause increases your risk of getting heart disease.
• Osteoporosis — after menopause, your body starts to break down bone more quickly than it replaces it.

Pregnancy during menopause

To avoid pregnancy, it's recommended that you continue to use contraception for:

• 2 years after your last period — if you're younger than 50 years
• 1 year after your last period — if you're older than 50 years

Resources and support

• To find a doctor who specialises in menopause, search the Australasian Menopause Society member list.
• Jean Hailes for Women's Health has fact sheets on menopause in several community languages and information to support First Nations women.
• The International Menopause Society has videos explaining menopause, subtitled in Vietnamese, Cantonese and Mandarin.

For more information and support, you can call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.