menopause
In women, the cessation of reproductive ability, characterized by menstruation (see menstrual cycle) becoming irregular and eventually ceasing. The onset is at about the age of 50, but varies greatly. Menopause is usually uneventful, but some women suffer from complications such as flushing, excessive bleeding, and nervous disorders. Since the 1950s, hormone-replacement therapy (HRT), using oestrogen alone or with progestogen, a synthetic form of progesterone, has been developed to counteract such effects.
Long-term use of HRT was previously associated with an increased risk of cancer of the uterus, and of clot formation in the blood vessels, but newer formulations using natural oestrogens are not associated with these risks. Without HRT there is increased risk of osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) leading to broken bones, which may be indirectly fatal, particularly in the elderly.
The menopause is also known as the ‘change of life’.
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