“The menopause can cause symptoms such as irregular periods, hot flashes, vaginal dryness and sleep problems. While some women may have little or no trouble, others may have moderate to severe discomfort and may want treatment to alleviate their symptoms.” - FDA. 

Menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation but is usually not scientifically diagnosed until one full year after a woman’s menstrual periods have stopped. 

There are three stages of menopause: perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. 

• Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause. This is when hormones start to decline and menstrual cycles become erratic and irregular. You may start to experience effects of menopause, like hot flashes or vaginal dryness. 
• Menopause occurs when you have stopped producing the hormones that cause your period for more than 12 months. Once this has occurred, you enter postmenopause. The terms peri-menopause and menopause are often used interchangeably. 
• Postmenopause starts after the menopause has happened. Postmenopausal women are at an increased risk for certain conditions, like osteoporosis and heart disease.

Menopause most commonly occurs between 45 and 55 years of age, as a woman's oestrogen levels decline, but many women will experience it before, or after, those ages. Around 1 in 100 women experience menopause before 40 years of age. This is particularly early and is known as premature menopause.

There are treatments available for symptoms of the menopause. It is not true that you must suffer without treatment. 

These include: 

• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) – tablets, skin patches, gels and implants that relieve symptoms by replacing oestrogen
• Vaginal oestrogen creams - lubricants or moisturisers for vaginal dryness
• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – a type of talking therapy that can help with the significant, and often distressing, changes in mood that occur as a result of hormonal changes in the menopausal period
• Diet and lifestyle changes – maintaining a healthy weight and staying fit and active can improve some physical and psychological menopausal symptoms

• Positive: Two lines are visible and the line in the test line region (T) is the same as or darker than the line in the control line region (C). A positive result means that the FSH level is higher than normal. Record the results and see the chart above to interpret the results. 
• Negative: Two lines are visible, but the line in the test line region (T) is lighter than the line in the control line region (C), or there is no line in the test line region (T). A negative result means that the FSH level is not elevated at this time. Record the results and see the chart above to interpret the results. 
• Invalid: Control line fails to appear. Insufficient specimen volume or incorrect procedural techniques are the most likely reasons for control line failure. Review the procedure and repeat the test with a new test. If the problem persists, discontinue using the test kit immediately and contact your local distributor.