- menopause
- Permanent cessation of the menses; termination of the menstrual life. [meno- + G. pausis, cessation]
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meno·pause 'men-ə-.pȯz, 'mēn- n1 a ) (1) the natural cessation of menstruation occurring usu. between the ages of 45 and 55 with a mean in Western cultures of approximately 51 (2) the physiological period in the life of a woman in which such cessation and the accompanying regression of ovarian function occurs called also climacteric compare perimenopauseb) cessation of menstruation from other than natural causes (as from surgical removal of the ovaries)2) andropausemeno·paus·al .men-ə-'pȯ-zəl, .mēn- adj* * *
n.the time in a woman's life when the ovaries cease to produce an egg cell every four weeks: menstruation ceases and the woman is no longer able to bear children. The menopause can occur at any age between the middle thirties and the middle fifties, most commonly between 45 and 55 (the median age is 51). Natural menopause can only be established in retrospect after 12 consecutive months of amenorrhoea. Around the time of the menopause (the perimenopause) there are marked changes in the menstrual cycle. Menstruation may decrease gradually in successive periods or the intervals between the periods may lengthen; alternatively there may be a sudden and complete stoppage of the periods. There is a change in the balance of sex hormones in the body, which sometimes leads to hot flushes and other vasomotor symptoms, palpitations, and dryness of the mucous membrane lining the vagina. Some women may also experience emotional disturbances. Some of these symptoms may be alleviated by hormone replacement therapy. The term 'menopause' is also used for the postmenopausal period.• menopausal adj.* * *
meno·pause (menґə-pawz″) [meno- + pause] cessation of menstruation in the human female, occurring usually around the age of 50. See also climacteric. menopausal adj
Medical dictionary. 2011.
