Menopause, also called “the change of life,” is a natural process that marks the end of a woman’s monthly menstrual cycles. Menopause is not a disease or disorder, but rather a natural biological process that brings an end to the fertile period of a woman’s life. Menopause is defined as the time when a woman does not have a period for one year without another cause (such as pregnancy or illness).

The period leading up to menopause, often called perimenopause, is marked by declining levels of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone and may be accompanied by symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and mood swings. Treatments are available that can help alleviate these symptoms.

Every woman will experience menopause at some point in their life but the age at which it occurs varies widely. The median age for menopause is American women is 51, but menopause is frequent in women between the ages of 45 and 55.