menopause

The period during which ovulation and menstruation ceases. It usually occurs in women between 45 and 55 years. Menopause is associated with changes in the balance of sex hormones, which can lead to emotional and physical changes. It is during menopause that bone density often falls significantly and may go below the fracture threshold (the density at which fractures occur easily). Regular weight-bearing exercises (provided they do not induce amenorrhoea) and a calcium-rich diet, especially during the teens and early twenties, can increase peak bone density and decrease the risk of bone fractures in later life. During menopause, exercise intervention to reduce the rate of bone loss has little effect unless it is combined with hormone replacement therapy. See also osteoporosis.