Menopause (PDF, 104 KB)
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- What is menopause?
- When does menopause usually happen?
- How will I know I am in perimenopause?
- Can I treat my menopause symptoms at home?
- When should I see my doctor about my menopause symptoms?
- What happens after menopause?
- Do I still need birth control during perimenopause?
- Will I gain weight after menopause?
- How can I protect my heart health after menopause?
- Is menopausal hormone therapy safe?
- What effects will menopause have on my sex life?
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Chhanda Dutta, Ph.D., Chief, Clinical Gerontology Branch, Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health
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Hadine Joffe, M.D., MsC, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Director of Division of Women’s Mental Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Director of Psycho-Oncology Research, Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Menopause
Menopause is the time when your menstrual periods stop permanently and you can no longer get pregnant. Some people call the time leading up to a woman’s last period menopause. This time actually is the transition to menopause, or perimenopause. After menopause, your body makes much less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Very low estrogen levels after menopause can affect your health and cause symptoms such as hot flashes. You can take steps to protect your health and relieve your symptoms.
Top questions about menopause
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Page last updated: March 18, 2019.
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