Menopause is often called the “change of life” and usually happens in women between 38 and 58 years of age. It is a slow and gradual process that can occur over three to five years while the ovaries slowly stop producing estrogen. This beginning phase is called peri-menopause, where periods become less frequent and some other menopausal signs can appear.

Menopause is considered complete when you have not menstruated for 12 months. This marks the end of your fertility and is accompanied by significant hormonal changes.

Prior to the advent of effective anti-HIV treatments, women with HIV reported getting menopause at an earlier age, and having a greater incidence and severity of associated symptoms.

Since treatments, there is less difference in the experience of menopause between HIV and non-HIV infected women, although some studies show the average age
of menopause remains younger in women with HIV. It is unclear whether this difference is due to HIV, or because the other factors associated with earlier menopause (such as drug use or lower body weight) is more common in women with HIV. Further, there were a small proportion of women with HIV in these studies that did not menstruate for over 12 months but still had fully functioning ovaries.

Women with HIV more commonly have irregularities in their menstrual cycle that may be mistaken for menopause. Further, the symptoms of menopause are often hard to distinguish between other symptoms associated with long term HIV infection.

Common symptoms of menopause include:


• hot flushes and night sweats

• crawling or itching sensations under the skin

• vaginal dryness and thinning of the vaginal walls

• reduced libido (sex drive)

• urinary frequency or accidental urination

• tiredness & fatigue

• insomnia (difficulty sleeping)

• mood changes (irritability, forgetfulness, depression)

• skin changes (becomes more firm and drier)

• cognitive changes (thinking and understanding)

• hair changes (it becomes thinner and more brittle)
• you are at increased risk of bone loss (osteoporosis) and cardiovascular disease