The invention relates to a method for operating at least one low-pressure discharge lamp using an inverter (T1, T2), the occurrence of a rectifier effect in the at least one low-pressure discharge lamp (FL1, FL2) being monitored during the operation of the at least one low-pressure discharge lamp (FL1, FL2) in order to determine the end of its life. For the purpose of monitoring the rectifier effect of the at least one low-pressure discharge lamp (FL1, FL2), the electric power (P) fed into the inverter (T1, T2), the d.c. voltage drop (U_dc1, U_dc2) across the electric connections of the at least one low-pressure discharge lamp (FL1, FL2) and the r.m.s. value (U_ac) of the a.c. voltage component of the running voltage of the at least one low-pressure discharge lamp (FL1, FL2) are evaluated.