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Early Menopause

Early menopause can happen before the age of 45 and may bring unexpected challenges. Women’s Health Sussex is here with advice and support to help you understand and manage your health.

Did you know?

A healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables and calcium can help protect your bones and support your overall health during early menopause.

We strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, but tips may change over time. Always consult a healthcare professional for personalised advice and guidance.

Menopause

Find out about menopause symptoms, causes and treatments, and things you can do to help.

  • Menopause is when your periods stop due to lower hormone levels. It usually affects women between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can happen earlier.
  • It affects anyone who has periods.
  • Menopause can happen naturally, or for reasons such as surgery to remove the ovaries (oophorectomy) or the uterus (hysterectomy), cancer treatments like chemotherapy, or a genetic reason. Sometimes the reason is unknown.
  • Perimenopause is when you have symptoms of menopause but your periods have not stopped. Perimenopause ends and you reach menopause when you have not had a period for 12 months.
  • Menopause and perimenopause can cause symptoms like anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, hot flushes and irregular periods. These symptoms can start years before your periods stop and carry on afterwards.
  • Menopause and perimenopause symptoms can have a big impact on your life, including relationships and work.
  • There are things you can do to help with symptoms. There are also medicines that can replace the missing hormones and help relieve your symptoms.

Content last reviewed by the NHS: 17 May 2022

Content last collected from the NHS: 20 August 2025

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