摘要
由于卵泡功能丧失而导致的月经永久停止称为绝经。临床上，40岁或50岁以上的妇女，除外其他的生理或病理因素，连续12个月闭经，即认为是绝经。平均在绝经前4年左右，多数妇女开始出现卵巢功能的内分泌、生物学和临床特点改变。一个共同特点就是既往月经规律的妇女出现月经周期紊乱。这一变化标志着进入绝经过渡期（围绝经期）。
The menopause is defined as the permanent cessation of menstruation that results from loss of ovarian follicular activity. Clinically, in women in their 40s or 50s, it is recognized to have occurred after twelve consecutive months of amenorrhoea for which no oilier obvious pathological or physiological cause can be found. In most women, the menopause is preceded by a period of an average duration of about 4 years during which the endocrine, biological and clinical features of changing ovarian function begin. A common feature is the development of cycle irregularity in women with a previous history of regular menses. This marks the onset of the menopausal transition （perimenopause）.
