Menopause
The point twelve months after the last period, preceded by a transition that commonly lasts years.
Last revised
Key takeaways
- Average age in the UK: 51
- Definition: 12 months after the last period
- Most useful single change: Write down every symptom before the appointment, including unrelated-seeming ones.
- Commonest mistake: Assuming blood tests are needed to diagnose it after 45.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to get help" below apply to you.
Why it matters
Symptoms extend far beyond hot flushes and are frequently attributed to stress, overwork or depression instead.
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average age in the UK | 51 |
| Definition | 12 months after the last period |
| Typical perimenopause duration | 4-8 years |
| Early menopause | before 45; premature ovarian insufficiency before 40 |
| Blood tests over 45 | not usually needed; diagnosis is on symptoms |
What helps
- Write down every symptom before the appointment, including unrelated-seeming ones
- Raise vaginal and urinary symptoms explicitly; they are treatable and rarely volunteered
- Ask about both hormonal and non-hormonal options, including CBT
- Seek assessment promptly if symptoms start before 45
What to avoid
- Assuming blood tests are needed to diagnose it after 45
- Putting up with genitourinary symptoms, which do not resolve on their own
- Stopping contraception on the basis of irregular periods alone
Where to go next
- A Q and A on Menopause
- The Short Guide to Menopause
- Cervical Screening: What the Evidence Actually Says
- Breast Awareness: What Published Guidance Supports
When to get help
Always report bleeding after the menopause, bleeding between periods, bleeding after sex, or a sudden change to much heavier periods — these need investigation and should never be assumed hormonal. Seek assessment for any menopausal symptoms starting before 45. Seek urgent help for chest pain or severe breathlessness rather than attributing palpitations to menopause.
Where this comes from
- NICE — Menopause: diagnosis and management
- British Menopause Society — guidance
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.