Menopause

The female reproductive system matures in a continuous, natural process from menarche to menopause as the finite numbers of oocytes produced during fetal development are gradually lost to ovulation and senescence. Menopause is defined as the permanent cessation of menses; by convention, the diagnosis of menopause is not made until the individual has had 12 months of amenorrhea. Menopause is thus characterized by the menstrual changes that reflect oocyte depletion and subsequent changes in ovarian hormone production. However, hormonal changes, rather than the cessation of menstruation itself, cause the manifestations that occur around the time of menopause. Therefore, a woman who has undergone a hysterectomy but who retains her ovaries can experience normal menopausal symptoms as oocyte depletion leads to changes in estrogen levels, even though cessation of menstruation occurred with surgery. This review covers definitions, natural menopause, menopausal transition and postmenopausal symptom management, and premature ovarian insufficiency. Figures show stages of reproductive aging, serum concentrations of hormones during menopausal transition and postmenopause, hormonal changes assoc