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Menopause can be both a physical and emotional journey for a woman. The good news is it can also be a time for new beginnings—a sort of passageway to a new part of life. Freedom from worries about pregnancy and birth control. Possibly a new starting point to refocus on your overall health and well-being. An important step in your journey is understanding what menopause is and what you can expect from the transition.
Menopause is a normal, natural part of life. Like puberty, all women go through it. The average age of a woman entering menopause is 51. Menopause is a stage of a woman's reproductive cycle that occurs when the ovaries stop producing estrogen. Menopause is typically confirmed when a woman has missed her periods for 12 consecutive months.
Menopause can occur at any age when both ovaries are surgically removed. This is called surgical menopause. Because of removal of the body's main source of estrogen (the ovaries), surgical menopause often results in a sudden onset of symptoms associated with menopause. Learn more about surgical menopause in the Hysterectomy Center.