The menopause, sometimes referred to as “the change”, is the name given to the end of menstruation (periods). The ovaries stop producing the female sex hormone oestrogen, which regulates menstruation and the ovaries will stop producing eggs well before the complete cessation of periods. Menopause is not of sudden onset and it is usually preceded by a time leading up to the menopause, which is of variable length, when women may experience both physical and emotional changes, this is known as the peri-menopause. The menopause is usually diagnosed when a woman has not had a period for a year and it can also be confirmed by hormonal tests. The average age of menopause is 51 years however; there are cases when it occurs much earlier than that, such as before the age of 40 and this is known as premature menopause. Some women reach the menopause without seeking medical help however; if a woman has severe or distressing symptoms there are treatments available.