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), 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.
In some women, menstrual flow comes to a sudden halt. More commonly, it tapers off. During this time, your menstrual periods generally become either more closely or more widely spaced. This irregularity may last for 1 to 3 years before menstruation finally ends completely.
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.
Cervicitis (3 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Cervicitis is an inflammation of the uterine cervix, usually caused by infection. Reviewer: Melanie N. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 05/10/2006
Dysmenorrhea in the adolescent (4 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Dysmenorrhea is painful menstruation (periods or menses. Reviewer: Melanie N. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 05/10/2006
Uterine fibroids (4 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors¿that develop within or attach to the wall of the uterus, a female reproductive organ. Reviewer: Melanie N. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 05/15/2006
Urinary tract infection (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. Reviewer: Marc Greenstein, DO, Urologist, North Jersey Center for Urologic Care, Denville, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 07/23/2007
Print
