The definition of menopause is when you haven’t had a period for 12 consecutive months (and there’s no other reason for this like weight loss, illness, the type of contraception used, or medical treatment or surgery). On average, a natural menopause happens around the age of 51 but it can happen earlier or later than this.

You may or may not have any symptoms, but 80% of women do experience menopause symptoms at some point.

If you are still having periods (even if only light or occasionally) and are noticing menopause symptoms, you may be in perimenopause. This is the transitional phase before periods completely stop, and it can last for several years.

You may not know whether you’re in menopause because you don’t get periods due to the type of contraception you use, so pay attention to any symptoms you may be having that can suggest it might be menopause related.

If you’re over 45 years and have one or more symptoms of menopause, you don’t usually have to have a blood test to diagnose peri/menopause as it is a diagnosis based on symptoms not blood results. If you’re under 45, and especially if you’re under 40, there are usually some blood tests that may be done to rule out other causes for your symptoms or to investigate things further.