Menopause is the milestone in every woman's life that marks the
end of her reproductive years. It is the point in time when a
woman has had no menstrual periods for 1 year, which happens
when the ovaries have stopped producing enough estrogen and
progesterone to keep the menstrual cycle going. Menopause marks
the end of the perimenopausal phase and the beginning of the
postmenopausal phase. While the average age of menopause is
around 50, every woman's body has its own unique timeline. Some
women stop having periods (menstruating) in their mid-40s, while
others continue until their mid-50s. After menopause, a woman's
estrogen stabilizes at a low level. Although low estrogen helps
reduce the risk of some types of cancer, it does lead to an
increasing loss in bone density, which sometimes causes
osteoporosis. eMedicineHealth Medical Reference from Healthwise
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