“Menopause is your final menstrual period.
If you haven’t had a period for 12 months,
you’ve reached menopause”.1
Umbrella
What may the Menopause Umbrella include?
Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:
- Change of Life
- Early Menopause
- Going Through the Menopause
- Induced Menopause
- Menopausal/Menopause Transition
- Menopause
- Natural Menopause
- Perimenopause
- Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause
- Postmenopause
- Premature Menopause
- Second Half of Your Life
- Surgical Menopause
- The Change
- The Change of Life
- The Time of Life
- The Menopause Years
- The Menopause-Related Years
- The Three Stages of Menopause
- Turning St Catherine’s Corner
Definition
What is menopause?
DotS the definition of menopause may vary. In Menopause: How Menopause Occurs the World Health Organization’s definition is:
On page four in Menopause Terminology: Glossary of Definitions – Menopause the definition used by the International Menopause Society is:
In Menopause FAQs: An Introduction To Menopause – Q. What Is Menopause? the North American Menopause Society’s (NAMS) definition is:
In What Is Menopause? Key Points the Australasian Menopause Society’s (AMS) definition is:
In What Is Menopause? The Menopause Transition: Menopause the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) definition is:
Menopause Age
What is the average age of menopause?
On page three in Menopause, Wellbeing and Health: A Care Pathway From the European Menopause and Andropause Society: 2. Diagnosing Reproductive Status, published 12 May 2022, the authors note:
- “Spontaneous menopause is usually defined retrospectively, after 12 months of amenorrhoea, typically at 50–51 years. The age of spontaneous menopause varies between ethnic groups. According to data retrieved from 21 studies and 10 countries, the youngest age at menopause has been described as 48 years for women living in South Asia, the oldest as 52 years in Japanese women, and an intermediate age of 50 years for Caucasian women”.7
Same Menopause or Not
Do all women experience the same menopause?
No. Menopause is not one-size-fits-all. Although all women have a FMP, different women experience different symptoms, at different times, in different ways, for different lengths of time, before and after their FMP.
In Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Menopause – Symptoms the (British) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guideline, the NICE elaborate on:

“Menopause affects every woman differently. You may have no symptoms at all, or they might be brief and short lived. For some women they are severe and distressing.
You can still get menopause symptoms if you have had a hysterectomy (an operation to remove your womb).
Other natural changes as you age can be intensified by menopause. For example, you may lose some muscle strength and have a higher risk of conditions such as osteoporosis and heart disease”.8
Healthy Lifestyle
Can a health lifestyle improve menopause symptoms?
In the Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause, first published online 10 June 2022, one of the recommendations is:
- “Women should be advised that implementing or maintaining a healthy lifestyle can improve menopause symptoms. A healthy diet (one low in saturated fat and salt and rich in calcium and vitamin D), stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake and including regular exercise can be beneficial. Reducing caffeine intake may also improve symptoms”.9
Hormone Therapy
How effective is hormone therapy (HT) for the treatment of menopause symptoms?
On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits, published July 2022, the NAMS explain:
Health Care Provider
What if I would like help with my menopause?
If you would like help with your menopause, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.
In What Is Menopause? When To See Your Doctor the JH explain:
- Irregular periods
- Heavy bleeding
- Bleeding after menopause
- Increased premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms
- Menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, that interfere with your daily life”.11
In Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment the (United States) Mayo Clinic encourage us to seek help:
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics related to Menopause?
In Health Topics A-Z you may find:
Links
Where may I find Links related to Menopause?
Your Country may have Links similar to:
Links
This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.New or Updated
- 5 of the Most Common Questions About Menopause
- Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
- Autism and Menopause: Q&A With Rachel Moseley and Julie Turner-Cobb
- BMS Statement on Testosterone
- BMS TV: Testosterone Explained
- Bioidentical Hormones Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
- Can Menopause Cause Anxiety, Depression or Panic Attacks?
- Causes of Menopause
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Menopausal Symptoms
- Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
- Diagnostic Tests for Menopause
- Does Having Hot Flashes Mean I’ve Started Menopause?
- Dr Gail Busby – I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – Episode 9 The Menopause
- Dr. Louise Newson Breaks Down The Menopause & Lisa Snowdon Shares Her Experience | This Morning
- Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
- Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society]
- Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
- Glossary of Terms
- How Long Does Menopause Last? – Ask Dr Jean
- How To Know If You Are In Menopause
- Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
- Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Menopause [Other Languages and Formats] [+ Video: Menopause]
- Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms [Other Languages and Formats] [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
- Living Well With MS and Menopause
- Maintaining Your Weight and Health During and After Menopause
- Managing Menopausal Symptoms—Hormone Replacement Therapy Is Not the Only Option!
- Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause Explained
- Menopause Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Menopause FAQs: Premature, Early, and Induced Menopause
- Menopause Glossary
- Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
- Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
- Menopause Mindfulness: Embracing the Change of My Midlife
- Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 1. What Is Menopause?
- Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
- Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 5. Lifestyle Advice In Menopause & Perimenopause
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Lifestyle Tips for Menopause
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: What Is Menopause?
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
- Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
- Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
Menopause What Are the Symptoms?
- Menopause and MS [Multiply Sclerosis]
- Menopause and Mental Health
- Menopause – Fact Sheet
- Menopause – Information for Partners – Fact Sheet
- Menopause – Multilingual Fact Sheets
- Menopause – Multiply Languages
- Menopause: Continuing the Conversation
- Menopause: Definitions and Terms
- Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Menopause [NICE Guideline]
- Menopause: How Your Body Changes and What You Can Do [+ Video]
- Menopause: Is It Starting?
- Menopause: Menopause – Hormone Treatments
- Menstrual Calendar
- Mood and the Menopause
- My Periods Have Changed. Is Menopause Around the Corner?
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 4 Things To Know About Menopausal Symptoms and Complementary Health Practices
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth
- Navigating Menopause Together: How Partners Can Help
- Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
- Normalising Menopause
- Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
- Supporting Women Through Menopause – Fact Sheet
- Symptoms of Menopause
- The Menopause Years
- Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
- Understanding Menopause – Booklet
- Understanding Premature & Early Menopause – Booklet
- Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
- Video Series-2022: Discussing Sexual Health Concerns With Your Health Care Professional
- Video Series-2022: Irregular Menstrual Cycles What’s Normal and What’s Abnormal?
- Video Series-2022: Perimenopause: Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
- Video Series-2023: Lifestyle Modification and Prevention of Breast Cancer
- Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Menopause and Abnormal Bleeding
- Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: What Women Should Know About Menopause and Brain Fog
- Webinars: Previous – Menopause and Work
- Webinars: Previous – Reproductive Conditions and Consequences for Menopausal Health and Management
- Webinars: Previous – To Sleep, Perchance To Dream
- What Are the 34 Symptoms of Menopause?
- What Causes Menopause?
- What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms
- What Is Menopause?
- What Is Menopause?
- What Is Menopause? [+ Video]
- Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Episode 3: Dr Annice Mukherjee: Your Essential Menopause Toolkit
- World Menopause Day
- Yarning About Menopause
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted at:
Sources
- What Is Menopause? The Menopause Transition: Menopause. Last Updated: 02 March 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/about-menopause Accessed: 16 March 2023
- Menopause: How Menopause Occurs. 17 October 2022. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/menopause Accessed: 16 March 2023
- Menopause Terminology: Glossary of Definitions – Menopause. Page 4. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMS-English-Factsheet-4-glossary.pdf Accessed: 16 March 2023
- Menopause FAQs: An Introduction To Menopause – Q. What Is Menopause? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-an-introduction-to-menopause Accessed: 16 March 2023
- What Is Menopause? Key Points. Content Created May 2022. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/185-what-is-menopause Accessed: 16 March 2023
- What Is Menopause? The Menopause Transition: Menopause. Last Updated: 02 March 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/about-menopause Accessed: 16 March 2023
- Lambrinoudaki I., Armeni E., Goulis D., Bretz S, Ceausu I, Durmusoglu F, Erkkola R. Fistonic I, Gambacciani M., Geukes M., Hamoda H., Hartley C., Lindén Hirschberg A., Meczekalski B., Mendoza N., Mueck A., Smetnik A., Stute P., van Trotsenburg M., Rees M. Menopause, Wellbeing and Health: A Care Pathway From the European Menopause and Andropause Society: 2. Diagnosing Reproductive Status. 12 May 2022:3 https://www.maturitas.org/article/S0378-5122(22)00090-1/fulltext Accessed: 16 March 2023
- Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Menopause – Symptoms. Published Date: 12 November 2015. Last Updated: 05 December 2019. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/ifp/chapter/Menopause Accessed: 16 March 2023
- Hamoda, H, Mukherjee, A, Morris, E, Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P, Moger, S. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause. First Published Online 10 June 2022:3-4. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 16 March 2023
- Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits. 2022:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 16 March 2023
- What Is Menopause? When To See Your Doctor. Last Updated: 02 March 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/about-menopause Accessed: 16 March 2023
- Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 17 December 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353401 Accessed: 16 March 2023