The menopause is influenced by a change in hormone levels. During a woman's fertile years, her ability to develop an egg each month is associated with the release of the hormone, oestrogen.
As women get older, less oestrogen is produced causing the body to behave differently. All the common symptoms of the menopause are associated with a decrease in the body's production of oestrogen.
Oestrogen deficiency can affect many parts of the body, including the brain, causing changes in emotional wellbeing, and the skin, influencing its elasticity and thickness.
Watch this animation to see how the hormones can affect a woman's life.