Menopause

The Menopause topic includes research on the biology, mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment of the menopausal transition and associated symptoms, as well as on psychological and social dimensions related to this transition. The category includes research on premature and induced menopause.

Menopause is a normal stage in aging when a woman no longer has menstrual periods and can no longer become pregnant. The time leading up to the cessation of periods is called perimenopause, and it can take several years. During this transition, production of estrogen and progesterone, both made by the ovaries, declines considerably. While some women experience no or mild symptoms associated with this hormonal transition, others can have hot flashes, night sweats, joint and muscle pain, moodiness, forgetfulness, trouble sleeping, and pain during sex, among other things. Whether a women suffers from menopausal symptoms is related to multiple factors, including race, ethnicity, culture, and environment. Tobacco smoking, for example, is linked to an early onset of menopause and more severe symptoms. Asian women are less likely to suffer symptoms during perimenopause, and Black women are more likely to have more symptoms and experience them over a longer period of time.