Definition

1. Noun:
   • The permanent cessation of menstruation: "menopause" refers to the natural biological process in a woman's life when her menstrual periods stop permanently, marking the end of her reproductive years.
   • The period of life when this occurs: "menopause" can also refer to the broader transitional stage, often called the climacteric, during which this change happens, typically accompanied by hormonal shifts and various physical symptoms.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • She experienced menopause in her early fifties. (This describes the event of her menstrual cycles ending.)
  • Hot flashes are a common symptom during menopause. (This uses the word to refer to the transitional life stage.)
  • The average age for menopause is around 51. (This refers to the time in life when the event typically occurs.)

Advanced Usage

• "to go through menopause": to experience the process and symptoms of the menopausal transition.
  • Many women go through menopause with minimal discomfort.
• "surgical menopause": the immediate onset of menopause symptoms due to the surgical removal of both ovaries.
  • A hysterectomy with oophorectomy can induce surgical menopause.
• "postmenopause": the period of life after menopause has occurred.
  • Bone density loss is a concern in postmenopause.

Variants and Related Words

• Menopausal (adj): relating to or characteristic of menopause.
  • She is experiencing menopausal symptoms.
• Perimenopause (n): the transitional period leading up to menopause, often marked by irregular cycles and symptoms.
  • Perimenopause can last for several years before the final period.
• Climacteric (n): a formal or technical term for the period of life when fertility declines, encompassing perimenopause and menopause.

Synonyms

• Change of life: A common euphemism for menopause.
• Climacteric: A more clinical synonym for the transitional period.

Related Phrases and Collocations

• Onset of menopause: the beginning of the menopausal process.
  • The onset of menopause varies from person to person.
• Induce menopause: to cause menopause to begin, typically through medical intervention.
  • Some cancer treatments can induce menopause.
• Early/Late menopause: menopause occurring before age 45 or after age 55, respectively.
  • Smoking is associated with an increased risk of early menopause.

Noun

1. the time in a woman's life in which the menstrual cycle ends