A woman's life is like the cycle of the seasons, controlled by the flow of hormones in her body. Hormones alter not only her physiology, but also her emotions and behavior.

Menopause is undoubtedly a turning point.

It wasn't until the 19th century that scientists discovered and isolated the hormones secreted by women's ovaries. They found that these hormones –estrogen and progesterone- They are regulated by a hypothalamic-pituitary axis, which stimulates ovulation and menstruation, naturally preparing women for the role of motherhood. Menopause signals the end of this breeding season and although the hypothalamus secretes its hormones in larger quantities to stimulate the ovaries, they respond irregularly and eventually give up the fight.

Menopause is a natural biological event and not a disease. But because it is steeped in myths and superstitions, for some women it is a stressful and unpleasant situationMenstruation has been closely linked to a person's female identity, sexuality and self-determination. There is a fear that by stopping it, all of the above may be shaken.

Therefore, it is important for women to become familiar with the functioning of their body and what exactly happens during menopause. Ignorance is always at the heart of irrational fears.

Ovarian aging is a slow and steady process. Most women are unaware that it begins even in fetal life. The maximum number of follicles (oocytes) is present in a five and a half month old fetus (5 million). But at birth, they have decreased to 1 million. By the age of 7, only 300,000 follicles remain, and as a woman approaches menopause, only a few hundred can be identified. From the age of 30, the size of the ovaries also begins to decrease.

This ovarian aging causes reduction in estrogen and progesterone secretion, which is responsible for the symptoms one experiences during menopause. Menopause is the cessation of menstruation.. Unless there is another pathological cause, the cessation of menstruation for 12 months retrospectively confirms that a woman has reached menopause. The average age of menopause is 51 years, but there are variations from woman to woman between the ages of 47 and 55. Genes, smoking, diet and general lifestyle play an important role in the age of menopause.

The climacteric on the other hand, refers to the perimenopausal period, 4-5 years before and after menopause. It is a critical period of transition from the reproductive to the non-reproductive phase, with reduced fertility, cessation of menstruation and physical changes due to lack of estrogen.

Menopause is a bridge to a confident, energetic life. The end of menstruation does not mean the end of life. If menopause is a time of crisis, it should also be a time of growth, of trying new solutions and finding a new sense of self-worth, because “The best is yet to come.“!