What is menopause?

Symptoms of menopause can be mild, absent, or severe and can include:

• Hot flushes
• Night sweats
• A poor sleep pattern due to night sweats
• Vaginal dryness — which can lead to painful sex
• Loss of libido
• Itchy skin
• Mood changes

Learn more about menopause symptoms

If menopause begins before the age of 40, it is called premature menopause.

Premature menopause can run in a family, or be caused by an infection, immune disorder, or chromosomal variation. Smoking has been linked to premature menopause. Surgical removal of the ovaries, or some cancer treatments, can cause premature menopause. Symptoms of menopause can be more severe and sudden in those cases. 

Perimenopause is the stage of menopause before your period stops. During this stage periods often change. They may become heavier, lighter, longer, shorter, or more irregular. This stage can last a year or more. If you have heavy bleeding that is causing problems in your life, you may be able to have treatment to help with this — make an appointment with us. 

You might be fertile for up to a year since your last period — sometimes two years if your menopause began before age 50. 

If you have sex where a penis goes inside your vagina, or cum spills on your vulva, you could get pregnant. You probably won’t get pregnant if you use contraception. 

It’s a good idea to make an appointment with us — we can help you work what contraception types will be best for you during menopause.  

Menopause affects everybody differently — your symptoms might be mild, absent, or severe. Menopause symptoms often last for several years. Some people’s menopause symptoms will last longer than two years, other people’s symptoms will last less than a year. 

Transgender men and some people who identify as neither men nor women also experience menopause, however there is a lack of available data on trans and gender diverse experiences of menopause.