About Menopause
Menopause is the permanent end of having a period (menstruation).1
Menopause is reached when it has been a year (12 months) since the last menstrual period.1,2
Transition to menopause usually takes about 7 years but can last up to 14 years.2
Changes typically begin between 45 and 55 years of age.1,2
The average age for menopause in the US is 52 years.1
Induced menopause, when the ovaries are removed or damaged, can happen earlier.3
Symptoms of menopause are caused by changes in hormone levels.1
Symptoms include hot flashes and vaginal changes.1,4
These symptoms can be treated. Ask your healthcare provider.
Click a topic below to learn more.
Menopause is a part of life. It is a result of natural changes to the ovaries. The ovaries are part of the reproductive system. The ovaries release eggs each month as part of the menstrual cycle.3
The ovaries also produce hormones, including estrogen. These are called ovarian hormones. Over time, ovary function slows down. The body’s ovarian hormone levels decline.2,3
Changes in hormone levels lead to symptoms such as hot flashes, irregular periods, and vaginal irritation. Symptoms typically begin when a woman is in her mid-40s to mid-50s. The transition to menopause may take several years.1,2
To learn more, talk with your healthcare provider.
Induced menopause can happen as a result of3
- removal of the ovaries by surgery
- damage to the ovaries by radiation or chemotherapy
The ovaries produce hormones, including estrogen. Removing or damaging the ovaries causes a sudden drop in the body’s hormone levels. This can cause symptoms of menopause.2,3
Natural menopause happens gradually, but induced menopause can cause symptoms right away.2
A hysterectomy is removal of the womb (uterus) by surgery.3
- Does end periods (menstruation) and the ability to become pregnant.
- Does not cause menopause unless both ovaries are also removed.
To learn more, talk with your healthcare provider.
As many as 4 in 5 women have hot flashes during the transition to menopause.5
Hot flashes are a feeling of heat in the upper body and face.1,5-7
- Heat may be sudden and severe
- May cause sweating and red, blotchy skin
- Can last from 30 seconds to 10 minutes
- Sometimes followed by chills and shivering
Night sweats, or hot flashes at night, can cause sleep problems.5
Hot flashes are caused by the drop in estrogen levels during menopause.7
They are most common in the years just before and after having the last period. They can start much earlier, though, and may continue for years later.5
To learn more, talk with your healthcare provider.
Changes in and around the vagina are common after menopause. About half of all women have symptoms of vaginal changes after menopause. Like hot flashes, they are caused by the drop in estrogen levels.7,8
Menopausal changes in and around the vagina may include4,8
- Dryness
- Itching
- Irritation
- Pain or bleeding with sex
Vaginal changes after menopause usually do not improve on their own. Symptoms can have an impact on emotions, relationships, and self-image.8,9
However, few women (7 out of 100) with vaginal symptoms of menopause said that their healthcare provider started a conversation about these symptoms.9
8 in 10 women with vaginal discomfort said it negatively affected their lives.9*
*Among US women in a survey about vaginal discomfort after menopause.9
Don't hold back. If you are experiencing vaginal symptoms of menopause, talk with your healthcare provider. Treatment can help.
Menopause is a natural part of life, but its symptoms can be disruptive.9,10 If you find that moderate to severe symptoms of menopause are holding you back, talk with your doctor. There are many treatment options.
Common symptoms, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness, can be managed effectively with estrogen therapy. EstroGel 0.06% (estradiol gel) is an estrogen therapy gel approved by the FDA to be used after menopause to11
- Reduce moderate to severe hot flashes
- Treat moderate to severe menopausal changes in and around the vagina
- If you use EstroGel only to treat menopausal changes in and around your vagina, talk with your healthcare provider about whether a topical vaginal product would be better for you.11
Symptoms of menopause can be managed. To learn more, talk with your healthcare provider.
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References: 1. The Office on Women’s Health. Top Questions About Menopause. Washington, DC; US Department of Health and Human Services; August 2017. 2. National Institute on Aging. What is menopause? https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-menopause. Reviewed June 27, 2017. Accessed January 8, 2020. 3. The North American Menopause Society. Menopause glossary. www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-glossary. Accessed January 22, 2020. 4. Food and Drug Administration. Estrogen and estrogen/progestin drug products to treat vasomotor symptoms and vulvar and vaginal atrophy symptoms—recommendations for clinical evaluation. Draft guidance. Washington, DC; US Department of Health and Human Services; January 2003. 5. Thurston RC, Joffe H. Vasomotor symptoms and menopause: findings from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2011;38(3):489-501. 6. NIH State-of-the-Science Panel. National Institutes of Health state-of-the-science conference statement: management of menopause related symptoms. Ann Intern Med. 2005;142(12):1003-1013. 7. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 2011 Women’s Health Stats & Facts. Washington, DC; 2011. 8. Nappi RE, Palacios S, Bruyniks N, Particco M, Panay N; EVES Study investigators. The burden of vulvovaginal atrophy on women’s daily living: implications on quality of life from a face-to-face real-life survey. Menopause. 2019;26(5):485-491. 9. The North American Menopause Society. Management of symptomatic vulvovaginal atrophy: 2013 position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause. 2013;20(9):888-902. 10. Avis NE, Crawford SL, Greendale G, et al; for the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN). Duration of menopausal vasomotor symptoms over the menopause transition. JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175(4):531-539. 11. EstroGel [package insert]. Herndon, VA: ASCEND Therapeutics; 2020.