What is menopause?

Natural menopause is when menses permanently cease because the ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone. It generally occurs in women after 45 years of age with no pathological or physiological cause, but early menopause can result from surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or primary ovarian insufficiency. Perimenopause is the transitional phase into menopause and may last between 4 to 8 years.^[1]