Menopause

Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

• What is menopause?
• At what age does a woman typically reach menopause?
• What conditions can affect the timing of menopause?
• What are the symptoms of menopause?
  • Irregular vaginal bleeding
  • Hot flashes & night sweats
  • Emotional and cognitive symptoms
  • Vaginal symptoms
  • Urinary symptoms
  • Other physical changes
  • Patient Discussions: Menopause - Symptoms Experienced
• What are the complications and effects of menopause on chronic medical conditions?
  • Osteoporosis
  • Cardiovascular disease
• Are hormone levels or other blood tests helpful in detecting menopause?
• What are the treatment options for the symptoms of menopause?
  • Hormone therapy
  • Other medical therapies
  • Alternative therapies
  • Non-hormone therapies
• Lifestyle factors in managing menopause symptoms
• Menopause At A Glance
• Related menopause articles on WebMD:
  Menopause
  Menopause symptoms
• Related menopause article on eMedicineHealth:
  Menopause
  

What is menopause?

Menopause is the absence of menstrual periods for 12 months. The menopausal transition starts with varying menstrual cycle length and ends with the final menstrual period. Perimenopause means "the time around menopause" and is often used to refer to the menopausal transitional period. It is not officially a medical term, but is sometimes used to explain certain aspects of the menopause transition in lay terms. Postmenopause is the entire period of time that comes after the last menstrual period.

Menopause is the time in a woman's life when the function of the ovaries ceases. The ovary, or female gonad, is one of a pair of reproductive glands in women. They are located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus. Each ovary is about the size and shape of an almond. The ovaries produce eggs (ova) and female hormones such as estrogen. During each monthly menstrual cycle, an egg is released from one ovary. The egg travels from the ovary through a Fallopian tube to the uterus.

The ovaries are the main source of female hormones, which control the development of female body characteristics such as the breasts, body shape, and body hair. The hormones also regulate the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Estrogens also protect the bone. Therefore, a woman can develop osteoporosis (thinning of bone) later in life when her ovaries do not produce adequate estrogen.

Perimenopause is different for each woman. Scientists are still trying to identify all the factors that initiate and influence this transition period.

Menopause - Symptoms Experienced

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