Menopause is the transition period in a woman's life when her ovaries stop producing eggs, her body produces less estrogen and progesterone, and menstruation becomes less frequent, eventually stopping altogether.
Alternative Names
Perimenopause; Postmenopause
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Menopause is a natural event that normally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.
Once menopause is complete (called postmenopause) and you have not had a period for 1 year, you can no longer become pregnant.
The symptoms of menopause are caused by changes in estrogen and progesterone levels. As the ovaries become less functional, they produce less of these hormones and the body responds accordingly. The specific symptoms you experience and how significant (mild, moderate, or severe) varies from woman to woman.
A gradual decrease of estrogen generally allows your body to slowly adjust to the hormonal changes. When estrogen drops suddenly, as is seen when the ovaries are removed surgically (called surgical menopause), symptoms can be more severe.
Because hormone levels fall, changes occur in the entire female reproductive system. The vaginal walls become less elastic and thinner. The vagina becomes shorter. Lubricating secretions from the vagina become watery. The outside genital tissue decreases. This is called atrophy of the labia.
Cervicitis (3 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Cervicitis is swelling (inflammation) of the end of the uterus (cervix. Reviewer: Peter Chen, MD, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed byDavid Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 02/19/2008
Uterine fibroids (4 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Uterine fibroids are noncancerous tumors that develop within or attach to the wall of the uterus, a female reproductive organ. Reviewer: Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine; Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/26/2008
Urinary tract infection - adults (5 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is an infection that can happen anywhere along the urinary tract. The urinary tract includes the: Bladder; Kidneys; Ureters - the tubes that take urine from each kidney to the bladder; Urethra - the tube that empties urine from the bladder to the outside. See also: Cystitis - acute; Cystitis - recurrent; Cystitis - noninfectious; Interstitial cystitis; Kidney infection (pyelonephritis; Urinary tract infection - children. Reviewer: Louis S. Liou, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Urology, Department of Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 10/02/2008
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