Female Menopause

Female Menopause

A term that few women are familiar with is climacteric. The climacteric period in a woman’s life is that period which begins as a counterpoint to puberty, and ends sometime after menopause. It encompasses the series of physical, emotional and psychic changes a woman encounters during her later sexual maturity.
How does the Climacteric Period Relate to Menopause?
Just as one goes through a series of changes leading up to and through puberty, culminating in reproductive maturity, a woman also has a climacteric period which transitions her from ovarian function, to hormonal decline, and through termination of fertility (menopause). Menopause takes place within the climacteric period.
Menopause is a biological “event” heralded by the cessation of menses and the termination of fertility, which can take from 1 – 7 years to complete, and generally occurs between the ages of 48 and 52. The climacteric is a long series of changes that may last from 15 – 20 years and generally falls between the ages of 40 and 60.
What Happens During the Climacteric Period and Menopause?
As menopause approaches, a woman’s monthly cycle begins to change due to changes in ovarian function. It is usual for the cycle to shorten from an average of 28 days to approximately 26 days by the time she reaches her early forties. During this period ovaries begin to lose their ability to produce estrogen and progesterone in quantities and ratios that would produce mature eggs, and fertility drops.
The menstrual cycle becomes irregular for most women. It is typical to have both longer and shorter periods between menstruation, and heavier and lighter menstrual periods, until eventually menstruation ceases.