Glossary Term:
Title
menopause
Phonetic
<b>men</b>-uh-paws
Description
The phase in life when ovaries stop working and menstruation ceases. During this time, hormone levels typically fluctuate before they stabilize at much lower levels. Menopause usually occurs in women in their late 40s or early 50s, but it can also be brought on suddenly by surgical removal of both ovaries (oophorectomy), or by some chemotherapy drugs that destroy ovarian function.