The potential side effect of menopause "down there" that women are talking about.

Most women are familiar with the side effects of menopause.

We know that at some point in our lives our bodies will become the involuntary victims of hot flushes and night sweats, mood swings, and fatigue but there are some less talked about changes that still catch many by surprise.

A simple question, posted on social media site Mumsnet proved that when it comes to our the ageing process, we still have a lot to learn.

“Do lady gardens stop needing to be mowed?” 

That was the inquiry which led to a flurry of responses from women, ranging from shock to elation and empathy.

“They can get a bit thin, threadbare and patchy,” one woman explained.

“It all falls out,” said another.

“Mine’s going white!” one chimed in.

Menopause is heralded by a range of hormonal fluctuations as women reach the natural conclusion of their reproductive lives.

The production of the "female hormones" oestrogen and progesterone drops as the ovaries slow down, but so does the production of other hormones such as testosterone.

One of the clearest signs of ageing is changes to the hair on your head and body, which may thin or turn grey as hair follicles begin to produce less of the colour pigment, known as melanin.

However, there is no hard or fast rule for how quickly people age or how their internal changes will show externally on their bodies.

Nearly everyone has some hair loss with ageing; the rate of hair growth slows as some hair follicles stop producing new hair altogether.

Many women will also notice their facial hair getting coarser, especially on the chin or upper lip. Sigh.

But, will you really go bald down there?

"I'm not aware of any scientific evidence in that area," Professor Martha Hickey, who works in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Royal Women's and Mercy hospitals, told Mamamia.

"I'm not sure of any scientific research that has tracked pubic hair through menopause and beyond.

"Does it matter?"

Well, no. Not at all. But for some women who've carefully tended their 'lady gardens' for a lifetime, the thought of never pruning it again might come as a relief.

As one Mumsnet user quipped:

"But doesn't it relocate to one's chin? Not a perk!"

So, in conclusion, you may well notice some changes to the hair on your head and other parts of the body, but there's no hard and fast rule.

And if anything, it just means less maintenance work, right?

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