Body and biology
What Is Menopause? Meaning on Medicine Labels
Menopause · say it: MEN-oh-pawzAlso written: the menopause, postmenopause, perimenopause, change of life
Short answer
Menopause is when menstrual periods stop for good because the ovaries make much less estrogen, confirmed after 12 months without a period.
What it means
Menopause is a natural stage of life when the ovaries stop releasing eggs and make much less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. It is usually confirmed after 12 months in a row with no period. The years leading up to it, when periods become irregular and symptoms often start, are called perimenopause. After menopause, a person is described as postmenopausal. Menopause can also happen earlier after surgery or some cancer treatments.
Menopause appears on many medicine labels. Hormone therapy labels list menopause symptoms, such as hot flushes and vaginal dryness, as uses, and carry warnings about blood clots, stroke and some cancers. Other labels, such as those for osteoporosis medicines, say 'postmenopausal women' because bone loss speeds up after menopause.
Menopause is not a disease. Its symptoms and longer-term effects, such as bone thinning, can be treated or prevented, which is why it often appears on prescriptions.
Where you may see it
- Indications on hormone therapy and osteoporosis medicine labels
- 'Postmenopausal' in the 'Use in Specific Populations' section
- Gynaecology and bone density reports
📄 How it looks on a report
Indicated for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
🙅 What it does not mean
- Menopause is not an illness, although its symptoms can be treated.
- Irregular periods do not mean you cannot become pregnant; contraception may still be needed during perimenopause.
- Bleeding after menopause is not normal and should always be checked by a doctor.
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Menopause”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Alendronate
a bisphosphonate, a medicine that slows the breakdown of bone by blocking cells called osteoclasts
- Estradiol
An estrogen hormone medicine
- Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
A progestin hormone. The label describes it as a derivative of progesterone. The FDA pharmacologic class is not listed.
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Menopause” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
- NCI Dictionary definition ↗
US National Cancer Institute: “menopause”
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General information about a medical word, not advice about your own results. Ask the clinician who ordered the test what it means for you.