Menopause is the clinical term marking the permanent cessation of menstruation, diagnosed retrospectively after twelve consecutive months of amenorrhea, signifying the end of a woman’s reproductive years. Physiologically, it is characterized by the irreversible loss of ovarian follicular activity and a significant, permanent decline in the production of estrogen and progesterone. This hormonal transition is a normal, though often symptomatic, phase of female aging that requires clinical attention to manage its widespread effects on bone, cardiovascular, and cognitive health.
Origin
The term menopause is derived from the Greek words menos, meaning “month,” and pausis, meaning “a cessation.” This etymology directly describes the hallmark clinical event of the menstrual cycle stopping. The term was formalized in the 19th century to describe this distinct physiological phase of life.
Mechanism
The primary mechanism of menopause is the natural exhaustion of the ovarian follicular reserve, which are the structures that produce estrogen and progesterone. As the number of follicles diminishes, the ovaries become unresponsive to the pituitary hormones FSH and LH, leading to persistently low circulating estrogen and progesterone levels. This profound hormonal shift disrupts the homeostatic balance across multiple organ systems, resulting in common symptoms like vasomotor instability (hot flashes) and contributing to long-term changes in metabolic and skeletal health.
Lifestyle factors like diet and exercise fundamentally amplify the efficacy of hormonal therapies by optimizing the body's metabolic and cellular environment.
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