Knowledge Center
Glossary Of Terms
Following is a list of terms mentioned in the film, as well as terms that may help you better understand and manage your own journey through menopause. Because words can heal or harm, we’ve limited our definitions to how they relate to women’s health. See the list of Sources at the bottom to learn more.
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
Glossary Sources
For more in-depth and detailed explanations of the terms above—and others related to menopause—visit the following sites.
- Let’s Talk Menopause: https://www.letstalkmenopause.org/glossary
- Menopause Society: https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-glossary
- *Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356007