The menopause

The menopause is when women stop ovulating and their periods stop. This means that a woman can no longer get pregnant and that hormones don’t fluctuate in the same way as they did during monthly menstrual cycles. The menopause usually begins between the ages of 45-55. Before it begins, periods may become less frequent before stopping altogether. The average age for a woman to begin the menopause in the UK is 51.

Women going through the menopause have low levels of oestrogen, which can reduce the amount of natural lubrication produced in the vagina, causing dryness and discomfort. Other symptoms of the menopause include hot flushes, night sweats, low mood, anxiety, difficulty sleeping and loss of libido (sex drive).