Menopause is a natural part of ageing when a woman stops having periods due to lower hormone levels. This usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55. The average age for a woman to reach menopause is 51.
Periods usually start to become less frequent over a few months or years before they stop. Sometimes they can stop suddenly. In some women, periods can become very heavy in the years coming up to menopause. Women over the age of 45 who experience new onset of heavy periods should make an appointment with their GP to discuss these changes.
Menopause can sometimes happen earlier naturally. Around 1 in 100 women experience menopause before 40 years of age. This is known as premature ovarian insufficiency. If you experience menopause before 45 years of age, this is called early menopause.
Menopause can also happen earlier for reasons such as surgery to remove the ovaries or the uterus (hysterectomy), cancer treatments like chemotherapy, radiation or cancer hormone therapies or a genetic reason.
Smoking increases the chance of early menopause. Stopping smoking can reverse this chance.
Sometimes the reason for early menopause is unknown.
Perimenopause is when you have symptoms before your periods have stopped. You reach menopause when you have not had a period for 12 months and are not using any hormone containing contraception.
Menopause and perimenopause can cause symptoms like hot flushes, changes to periods, mood swings, anxiety and brain fog. These symptoms can start years before your periods stop and carry on afterwards.
Menopause and perimenopause symptoms can have a big impact on your life, including relationships and work.
There are things you can do to help with symptoms. There are also medicines that can replace the missing hormones and help relieve your symptoms.
More information on menopause symptoms and treatment is available on hse.ie/menopause.
The Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) has assembled a helpful list of resources to give you some general information about menopause, what it is, how it is diagnosed, and what to expect from its treatment. The videos feature ICGP’s Director of Women’s Health, Dr Nóirín O’Herlihy and the ICGP’s GP Clinical Lead in Women’s Health, Dr Ciara McCarthy.