What is menopause?

Colloquially, menopause is referred to as the entire transition from full ovarian function (ovaries capable of ovulating) to complete cessation (ovaries stop ovulating, meaning no more eggs are developed) — it’s essentially puberty in reverse. 

Medically speaking, menopause is just one day — the day twelve months after the final menstrual period. However, the full menopause transition is a continuum involving three stages: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. These three stages will last between one-third to one-half of a woman’s (or anyone with ovaries) life.