Introduction to Menopause
Menopause simply means the end of menstruation, but the term is also used to refer to
the months and years in a woman's life before and after her final period a time
that may or may not bring with it some physical or emotional changes.
Most women menstruate for the last time at about 50 years of age; a few do so as early
as 40, and a very small percentage as late as 60. Women who smoke undergo menopause about
two years earlier than nonsmokers. Most women notice some menstrual changes such as
shortening of cycle length (periods occurring closer together), skipped menstrual periods
and occasional heavy periods up to a few years before menstruation ceases.
There is great variation in experience of menopause among women. About 10 percent to 15
percent of women report that menopausal symptoms interfere with their daily life.
More than one third of the women in the United States, about 36 million, have been
through menopause. Women now live longer. With a life expectancy of about 81 years, a 50
year old woman can expect to live more than one-third of her life after menopause. So, it
is important that you understand what is happening and how to cope up with menopause so
that you can spend the last third of your life comfortably.
What Is Menopause?
Menopause is defined as the time when a woman's menses, or menstruation, permanently
ceases. After menopause, a woman will no longer ovulate- produce eggs that can be
fertilized to develop into a baby. Although much remains to be known about why menopause
occurs, it appears to be closely tied to the depletion of follicles, tiny cellular
entities found in the ovaries. Each follicle is made up of an egg surrounded by cells.
Menopause is the last stage of a gradual biological process in which the ovaries reduce
their production of female sex hormones. The process actually begins about 3 to 5 years
before the final menstrual period. This transitional phase is called the climacteric,
or perimenopause. Menopause is considered complete when a woman has been without
periods for 1 year. On average, this occurs at about age 50. But the onset of menopause
varies from person to person. Cigarette smokers tend to reach menopause earlier than