Menopause is an evolutionary conundrum. Why would something evolve that reduces the number of potential offspring that an individual can have? And yet, even though rare, menopause not only exists, but has evolved multiple times in a few different species. Here, we use an interrupted case study format to explore the ecological and evolutionary explanations for the existence of menopause to introduce students to some of the fascinating research that has occurred in humans and other species that do, and do not, have menopause as part of the normal life history of females. Over the course of the case study, students evaluate different hypotheses for the existence of menopause, interpret complicated figures, and make predictions based on observed data. Originally written for college biology majors in a second-year course in evolution, the case could also be used in a non-majors biology class with more instructional support, or in an upper-level class in evolutionary ecology using the extensions described in the teaching notes.