The menopause has sometimes been referred to as the change of life.
Menopause usually takes place as a marker of the end of the menstruation cycle.
Women typically go through this stage in their life at around the age of 52.
Once a women reaches this stage in her life she will naturally stop producing eggs and therefore her periods will no longer take place.
The cause of this natural occurrence is a decrease in levels of the female hormone estrogen, this is a hormone which regulates menstruation in females.
The female period rarely stops dramatically but usually tapers off as the time draws closer.
It has been reported for the periods to just stop in some women though this is usually quite rare.
Periods generally occur less and less until eventually they stop altogether.
It is said that women that have not experienced a period in over a year are believed to have reached the menopause.
During and after this period in a females life, physical and emotional changes are often felt and it can be quite a difficult time for some.
In certain cases the menopause has been known to occur in women younger than the age of 50, this is what is known as premature menopause.
Reports of women as young as 30 have been known to suffer this phenomena.
Most women will naturally go through the menopause without any struggles or worries.
It can be a distressing and stressful time for some and help and medication is available to those that experience severe symptoms.