Menopause often occurs sometime between age 45 and 55, but the average age is 51. Menopause means the permanent end of menstruation.

Menopause begins at that point when you have had your last menstrual cycle. You won’t know if you have had your last period until you have been period-free for 1 year.

If you smoke, you may go through menopause about 1-1/2 years earlier than someone who does not smoke.

Hot flashes can occur several times an hour, a few times a day, or once or twice a week. Most people have hot flashes for about 1 year. Some may have them for 2 to 5 years.

The pituitary gland releases this hormone to stimulate the ovaries to release follicles, or eggs. A blood test that measures the hormone, along with symptoms such as hot flashes and your period ending, confirms perimenopause—the stage just before menopause.

Bones thin when ovaries stop producing estrogen. Cholesterol levels can rise, which threatens heart health.

Talk with your healthcare provider about what you can do to help prevent bone loss.

Used for a short time, hormone therapy can help relieve symptoms of menopause. But long-term use raises the risk for breast cancer, heart attack, and stroke.

A person who doesn’t want to get pregnant should continue to use birth control for at least a full 12 months after their last period.