But the changes that lead up to menopause and the reacclimation of the body during and after, usually span several years. The ovaries are a woman's main producers of the female hormone estrogen. As one approaches menopause they gradually stop working and the level of this hormone drops dramatically.
Menstrual periods stop and it's no longer possible, in the usual way, to get pregnant.
Menopause may occur as early as 35 or as late as 60. Most women will stop menstruating in their mid-40's to early 50's. A few women simply stop having periods, but most women have signs of menopause many months before it actually happens. The first sign is often a change in the menstrual cycle. Periods may become irregular or less frequent, or they may become longer or shorter.