Common ClimactericTerminology Defined

The climacteric includes perimenopause, menopause (natural or induced) and post-menopause. These definitions are provided by the Australasian Menopause Society to reduce the confusion and misinformation related to the field of menopause.

Climacteric definition

“The phase in the ageing of women marking the transition from the reproductive phase to the non-reproductive state. This phase incorporated the perimenopause by extending for a longer variable period before and after the perimenopause”¹.

Perimenopause definition

“includes the period immediately prior to the menopause (when the endocrinological, biological, and clinical features of approaching menopause commence) and the first year after menopause” ¹.

Menopause definition (natural menopause)

“The permanent cessation of menstruation resulting from the loss of ovarian follicular activity. Natural menopause is recognised to have occured after 12 consecutive months of amenorrhea (no bleeding), for which there is no other obvious pathological or physiological cause" ¹.

Menopause definition (induced menopause)

“The cessation of menstruation which follows either surgical removal of both ovaries (with or without hysterectomy) or iatrogenic ablation of ovarian function (eg by chemotherapy or radiation)” ¹.

Post-menopause definition

“Dating from the final menstrual period, regardless of whether the menopause was induced or spontaneous” ¹.

Reference

1. Australasian Menopause Society 2023, ‘Scientific definitions of menopause related terminology’, Australasian Menopause Society, available at <https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/position-statements/scientific-definitions-for-menopause-related-terminology>.