The female reproductive system: hormonal changes during menopause

2025-06-10

The World Health Organization (WHO) has changed the age classification of people. Now a person under 45 years of age is considered young. But this does not change the fact that some women may already have the first symptoms of premenopause at about the same age. And for a woman during this period, it is important to learn to understand and accept herself in transition.

It is very difficult to determine the exact time period of the development of menopause: from the moment of its very first signs to its end, an average of 12 years can pass. Much depends on the conditions and lifestyle, diet, temperament of the woman, her psycho-emotional experiences, heredity.

Female sex hormones

To understand what hormonal changes occur during the climacteric period, it is necessary to talk about the reproductive system of a woman.

In the ovaries of a woman, the sex hormones estrogens (estradiol, estrone, estriol) and progesterone are produced, as well as a small amount of male sex hormones, which are necessary not only for the functioning of the female genital organs, but also for maintaining general health. The main part of androgens is produced by the adrenal glands. Sex hormones, especially estrogens, affect all structures of the body. In addition to the reproductive organs, targets for female sex hormones include the bladder and urethra, liver, musculoskeletal system, blood vessels, heart muscle, skin, intestines, and brain.

Full version of the access article in Ukrainian