Abstract
The menopause is defined by Stedman’s as the “permanent cessation of menses.” The prefix meno is derived from the Greek men (month) and refers to the menstrual cycle. Pause signifies the cessation of the process. The transition from regular ovulatory cycles to the menopausal state is usually not an instantaneous event. Rather, it is a series of hormonal and clinical alterations that reflect declining ovarian function. The process itself is initiated well in advance of the menopause. This chapter discusses the endocrine events that culminate in and comprise the menopause as well as the diagnostic approach to these events. We will first briefly review the events associated with the normal menstrual cycle. Next, we will discuss the events that occur during the transition from regular ovulatory cycles to menopause. Finally, we will review the physiologic changes seen during menopause.
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Chang, R.J., Plouffe, L., Schaffer, K. (1994). Physiology of the Menopause. In: Lorrain, J., Plouffe, L., Ravnikar, V.A., Speroff, L., Watts, N.B. (eds) Comprehensive Management of Menopause. Clinical Perspectives in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4330-4_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4330-4_1
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