---
title: What is Menopause?
description: A guide to key elements of menopausal health and available therapies
---

<https://affirmmedical.com.au/blog>

# [What is Menopause?](https://affirmmedical.com.au/blog/menopause-vs-peri-menopause)

 Written by [Dr Jessie Huang](https://affirmmedical.com.au/blog/author/dr-jessie) | Feb 24, 2026, 12:15:36 AM

What is menopause?

Menopause is a natural and permanent biological process in a woman's life that  
marks the end of her reproductive years. The ovaries stop producing eggs and also  
produce a lower level of hormones- mainly oestrogen and progesterone. While  
menopause is a single point in time, it is part of a broader transition with three  
stages:

Peri-menopause is the time leading up to the menopause, when ovarian function  
starts to decline, causing instability of the menstrual cycles and also hormone levels.  
This results in irregular periods, changed flow and uncomfortable symptoms such as  
insomnia, moodiness and hot flushes. Peri-menopause can last for years (average  
4-8). You can still have regular periods in the peri-menopause if you have typical  
symptoms. Conversely, irregular or heavy bleeding may be due to something other  
than peri-menopause and may need investigations.  
Women who experience typical symptoms over the age of 45 years of age do  
not need a blood test to diagnose peri-menopause. Hormone testing can be  
unreliable or difficult to interpret due to daily and inter-cycle fluctuations.

Menopause is the last actual menstrual period in a woman’s life, which can only be  
diagnosed in retrospect, once there has not been a period for 12 months (in the  
absence of another cause, such as suppression due to breastfeeding). The average  
age of menopause in Australian women is 51 years old. Menopause can also be  
surgically induced, by removal of the both ovaries, or caused by medical treatments  
such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.  
Women who experience menopause between age 40-45 years are said to have  
early menopause.  
Women who experience menopause prior to age 40 years are said to have  
premature menopause, or premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). This affects  
roughly 1% of women. These women are at higher risk of adverse health outcomes if  
they are not treated with hormonal therapy

Post menopause is the rest of the time after the menopause. While some  
symptoms may persist, they often lessen over time. The lower levels of hormones  
after menopause increases the risk of certain health conditions, such as  
cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and genitourinary syndrome.

 

MENO-SSENTIALS by Dr Jessie Huang © 2025 Affirm Medical

[View full post](https://affirmmedical.com.au/blog/menopause-vs-peri-menopause)

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