What causes menopause? A guide to what is happening in the body

Menopause occurs when a person stops having periods due to a decline in certain hormones. There is no medical treatment to delay menopause, but treatment can help people manage any symptoms.

Some research suggests that certain lifestyle factors may help postpone the onset of menopause, but more clinical evidence is necessary.

Menopause begins with a transitional phase in which a person’s menstrual cycle patterns start to change. It ends after their period permanently stops. The process can take several years. A person reaches menopause once they have not experienced a period for 12 consecutive months.

Various factors may influence the age at which menopause starts, including a person’s genetics, lifestyle, and medical history.

This article looks at what causes menopause and the hormonal changes that occur during the transition. It also discusses the factors that influence menopause, the phases of menopausal transition, and when to speak with a doctor.

Natural menopause is a normal phase of aging that indicates the end of the reproductive years for people who have periods.

The transition occurs due to a decline in certain hormones and ovarian follicles, which are fluid-filled sacs within the ovaries that contain immature eggs. Estrogen and other hormones decline at the same time.

The decrease in estrogen causes the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium, to stop thickening in preparation for pregnancy and shedding during menstruation. This results in a person’s menstrual cycle becoming irregular until their period eventually stops permanently.

Menopause usually starts between ages 45 and 55. The average age of onset in the United States is age 52.

As a person ages and enters menopause, the number of granulosa cells in their ovaries declines. These cells produce and secrete various hormones, including:

As levels of these hormones decline during menopause, FSH production increases. However, without enough ovarian follicles left to respond to the effects of the increasing FSH, ovulation does not occur. In turn, the ovaries produce less estrogen, endometrium development halts, and menstruation ceases.

Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), sometimes called hormone replacement therapy (HRT), can replace ovarian hormones during menopause, which helps relieve many of the symptoms. However, it cannot delay the onset of menopause.

Genes can influence menopause in different ways, including the time of onset.

People with a family history of early menopause are more likely to experience menopause before age 45.

Parents may also pass down genes for various health conditions that could increase the risk of early menopause. These include:

Variants in specific genes may also affect menopause.

Research suggests a variant in the tachykinin receptor 3 (TACR3) gene may sometimes play a role in the age of menopause onset and some menopause symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats.

Certain health conditions and medical treatments may also contribute to or cause early menopause. These include:

Chronic inflammation may decrease the number of cells in the ovaries that produce estrogen and other hormones, and cause other structural and functional changes that may contribute to ovarian aging.

This could result in early menopause, or premature menopause, which happens before age 40.

A person may want to contact a doctor if they experience symptoms of menopause that affect their quality of life.

Hormone treatment may help a person manage symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and mental health difficulties.

A doctor may also be able to help reduce the risks of certain health concerns associated with menopause, including osteoporosis.

In terms of when is the right time to talk with a doctor about hormone treatment, I generally recommend the sooner the better for several reasons.

Firstly, why suffer if you can feel better? Secondly, the most rapid bone loss occurs within the first 2 years following menopause. Lastly, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), also called MHT, is most beneficial overall in the first 10 years following menopause.

Read about the uses, types, and effects of HRT.

_{Quotes represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.}

Some lifestyle factors contribute to early menopause. People who smoke may be more likely to have early menopause and experience more severe symptoms than nonsmokers.

Scientists also associate factors like diet, exercise, and body mass index (BMI) with early menopause.

Some lifestyle factors contribute to early menopause. People who smoke may be more likely to have early menopause and experience more severe symptoms than nonsmokers.

Scientists also associate factors like diet, exercise, and body mass index (BMI) with early menopause.

Various genetic and environmental factors may contribute to premature menopause. These include family history, medical and surgical interventions, and certain health conditions.

Various genetic and environmental factors may contribute to premature menopause. These include family history, medical and surgical interventions, and certain health conditions.

People’s experiences of menopause vary widely. Some experience no or mild symptoms, while others have severe symptoms that significantly affect their quality of life. The duration of symptoms also varies between individuals.

People’s experiences of menopause vary widely. Some experience no or mild symptoms, while others have severe symptoms that significantly affect their quality of life. The duration of symptoms also varies between individuals.

There is no definitive way to delay menopause, and a person cannot prevent it.

Some research suggests the following may contribute to later-than-average natural menopause, or reduce the risk of early menopause:

There is no definitive way to delay menopause, and a person cannot prevent it.

Some research suggests the following may contribute to later-than-average natural menopause, or reduce the risk of early menopause:

Natural menopause is a normal phase of aging that follows the reproductive years in people who have periods. It occurs when ovarian follicles and certain hormones decrease, and leads to the end of menstruation.

There is no definitive way to delay menopause, although some research suggests diet and other modifiable factors may influence the time of onset. However, more research is still necessary.

Treatment can help people manage the symptoms of menopause if they occur. If a person experiences any symptoms that affect their quality of life, they can contact a doctor.