Menopause is the result of the hormonal processes that take place as the ovaries stop producing eggs and the menstrual cycle ceases. It usually affects women between the ages of 45 and 55 with a mean age of 51 years in the UK (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE], 2024). This period of time is marked by fluctuations in the key sex hormones: oestrogen (specifically oestradiol), progesterone and testosterone, causing a range of physical, psychological and cognitive symptoms that can have a substantial impact on women’s lives (Nappi et al, 2021), particularly their working lives (D’Angelo et al, 2022; Faubion et al, 2023).
There are three stages to menopause: perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. Perimenopause is the transitional phase before menopause, resulting from changes in menstrual cycles and accompanying symptoms. These changes typically begin in the early to mid-40s age range but can occur earlier due to surgery or
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