menopause
n. uncountablen. the time in a woman's life when her periods stop and she can no longer get pregnant naturally. It usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55.
n. the physiological cessation of menstruation, typically occurring between ages 45 and 55. Characterised by the permanent ending of fertility due to the decline of ovarian follicular activity.
Most women experience the menopause in their late forties or early fifties.
She consulted her doctor about managing the hot flashes and sleep disturbances associated with the onset of menopause.
While the biological transition of menopause is universal, the cultural perception of this life stage varies significantly across different societies, affecting how women report and manage their symptoms.
From French ménopause, from Latin menopausis, from Ancient Greek μήν (mḗn, “month”) + παῦσις (paûsis, “pause”). Equivalent to meno- + -pause.
Often used with the definite article ('the menopause') when referring to the life stage in general, though it can also function without it.