overall menopause means the failure of ovaries to produce estrogen. estrogen builds up the lining of the uterus so that there is something to shed as a period. technically if your uterus is removed with a hysterectomy you will have no more periods. yet if the ovaries are still in place and working a woman is not yet in menopause. if ovaries are taken out that is considered "surgical menopause. " according to the north american menopause society early menopause is when the last natural menstrual period occurs before age 45 while premature menopause indicates a woman aged 40 or less. premature ovarian failure (pof) like premature menopause also is linked to being age 40 or younger. among researchers who study pof a term used first by the french -- ovarian insufficiency -- may become the new standard term for pof.
is there a difference between early menopause premature menopause and premature ovarian failure?