American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists Medical Guidelines for Clinical Practice for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Menopause

Abstract

Menopause is strictly defined as 1 year without menses. In fact, however, the ovaries progressively fail to produce estrogen. This failure often begins in the late 30s, and most women experience near-complete loss of production of estrogen by their mid-50s. The transition from normal ovarian function to ovarian failure is described as the menopausal transition. The population affected by estrogen deficiency is substantial: there are approximately 70 million women in the United States beyond 50 years of age, with 2,500 to 3,500 women having their 50th birthdays each day (1).