Menopause-diagnosis and management

Menopause -A biological stage in a woman's life that occurs when she stops menstruating and reaches the end of her natural reproductive life ( NICE 2019 )

Perimenopause -Also called climacteric ( Greek- rung of ladder ) NICE - time in which a woman has irregular cycles of ovulation and menstruation leading up to menopause and continuing until 12 months after her final period It is the time when endocrinological , biological and clinical features of approaching menopause commence Avg age 45-47 Irregular cycles of ovulation and menstruation ( shortening follicular phase and anovulatory cycles ) Ends 12 months after the last menstrual period

Early menopause -less than 45 yrs

Premature menopause -Menopause before age of 40 yrs also called " premature ovarian insufficiency" or "premature ovarian failure"Causes include toxic exposure , chromosomal abnormality or autoimmune disorder , medical or surgical treatment

Postmenopause -time after menopause has occurred , starting when a woman has not had a period for 12 consecutive months ( NICE )

What happens -Menopause happens when the pool of ovarian follicles is depleted New research has shown that after age 40- primordial follicles reduce in number rapidly- there is a decrease in inhibin B secretion- an...