# Sources and claims

Checked 3 November 2026.

- WHO, Menopause: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/menopause
- NICE NG23, recommendation 1.5.24: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/chapter/Recommendations

Menstrual-cycle changes and a transition that may last years; natural menopause defined after 12 consecutive months without menstruation and with no other cause; pregnancy remains possible during perimenopause (WHO).

Illustrations are representative. Calendar dates and the 03:17 clock are storytelling details, not patient data or statistics. General information, not an individual diagnosis.