Menopause is a phase that begins 12 months after the last menstrual period. It results from a gradual reduction, then cessation, of oestrogen and progesterone production in the ovaries. This decline in reproductive hormones begins in the years leading up to menopause, a period known as perimenopause. As a result of these hormonal changes, ovulation and menstruation cease during menopause, which explains why a woman can no longer get pregnant once she reaches this stage. Menopause generally occurs around the age of 50.
