anxiety: a persistent and excessive worry that cannot be put to the side; physical symptoms may include increased irritability, fatigue, muscle tension, trouble falling and staying asleep, avoiding one’s usual routine, and/or a sense of impending doom

bone density: lower levels of bone-mineral density during menopause may lead to a greater risk of fracture, osteopenia (low bone mass), and/or osteoporosis (weak, brittle bones)

brain fog: a noticeable decline in cognitive ability; may include forgetfulness, loss of short-term memory, or struggles to remember everyday words

breast cancer and menopause: treatments for breast cancer (such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or ovarian suppression) can trigger symptoms of menopause 

cardiovascular disease (CVD): the number one cause of death for women in the US, CVD is an umbrella term for a range of conditions that may include high blood pressure/hypertension, heart attacks, higher LDL (or bad) cholesterol, heart failure, coronary artery disease, arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm), arterial blockage, strokes, and/or heart valve issues

dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA): the body uses DHEA, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, to make androgens and estrogens, the male and female sex hormones; DHEA levels peak at about age 25, then go down steadily with age 

depression*: a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest; can be triggered by hormonal changes during  perimenopause, even for women with not history of depressive episodes

dyspareunia: the medical term for recurring or continuing pain during or just after sexual intercourse

early menopause: when a woman between the ages of 40 and 45 stops getting her period

estrogen: one of the two main female sex hormones

follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): a hormone that helps grow eggs for release from the ovaries as part of the menstrual cycle

genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM): includes genital, sexual, and urinary symptoms associated with menopause (vaginal dryness, vulvar irritation, urinary discomfort, and an increased risk of recurrent UTIs); previously called vaginal atrophy

hormone replacement therapy (GSM): former term for medication containing female hormones prescribed to women to alleviate symptoms of menopause; see menopause hormone therapy (MHT)

hot flashes: intense waves of heat around the head, face, chest, and neck, which may cause the skin to redden, blotch, and perspire

hysterectomy: a partial hysterectomy is the surgical removal of part or all of the uterus; a total hysterectomy includes the removal of the cervix; a radical hysterectomy involves the removal of the uterus, cervix, both ovaries, both fallopian tubes, and nearby tissue

induced menopause: when menstruation stops after either surgical removal of both ovaries (with or without hysterectomy) or iatrogenic ablation of ovation function (e.g., by chemotherapy or radiation)

joint pain: experiences of stiff or swollen joints; the most common are pain, heat, or inflammation in the knees, neck, ankles, fingers, elbows, jaw, and back joints

late-onset menopause: when a woman has her final period after the age of 55

low libido: a declining interest in having sex and/or becoming aroused

medical menopause: menopause triggered by medical treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, or ovarian suppression therapy; may be temporary or permanent

menopause: when a woman has not had her period for 12 consecutive months

menopause hormone therapy (MHT): medication containing female hormones, prescribed to women to alleviate symptoms of menopause; formerly known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

menorrhagia: noticeably heavy menstrual bleeding or menstrual bleeding that lasts longer than one week

natural menopause: the majority of women in the U.S. go through a gradually occurring “natural menopause” between the ages of 45 and 55 

neurological disease: include cognitive impairment, memory loss, ischemic stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease

night sweats: hot flashes that occur during sleep

North American Menopause Society (NAMS) practitioner: a licensed healthcare provider who has received certification in the field of menopause from the North American Menopause Society (now “Menopause Society”)

oophorectomy: surgical removal of an ovary; bilateral oophorectomy is the removal of both ovaries

osteopenia: decreased bone density; people diagnosed with this condition are at a greater risk for later developing osteoporosis

osteoporosis: a disease that results in weak, frail bones

perimenopause: the four-to-ten year stretch before menopause when estrogen and progesterone levels begin to fluctuate and ultimately decrease

perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs): a spectrum of mood and anxiety disorders that can affect women during pregnancy and the postpartum period; commonly referred to as “postpartum depression”

postmenopause: after 12 months without a period, a woman reaches menopause and is then considered postmenopausal

premature menopause: generally understood to mean when menopause occurs before the age of 40

premature ovarian insufficiency (POI): formerly known as premature ovarian failure, POI occurs when a woman’s ovaries stop functioning properly before she turns 40

premenopause: the beginning of a woman’s reproductive life cycle, which begins with her first period and ends with perimenopause

premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD): an intense case of PMS

premenstrual syndrome (PMS): physical and emotional symptoms (such as bloating, tender breasts, food cravings, fatigue, irritability, and mood swings) that usually start in the two-week period after ovulation and before menstruation

progesterone: one of the two main female sex hormones

surgical menopause: occurs as a result of either a bilateral oophorectomy (removal of both ovaries) or a total hysterectomy (uterus and ovaries are removed)

urinary incontinence: can range from slight leakage (e.g., upon laughing or sneezing) to an inability to reach the toilet on time

urinary tract infections (UTIs): a UTI results when bacteria enter the urethra and multiply inside the bladder

vaginal atrophy: an outdated term; see genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM)

vasomotor symptoms (VMS): symptoms associated with menopause that are triggered when hormone fluctuations cause blood vessels to constrict and dilate erratically; hot flashes and night sweats are the most recognizable VMS

Women’s Health Initiative (WHI): a long-term national (US) health study focused on women