Here we have gathered the menopause terms you come across in clinicians’ reports, test results and articles, with short definitions. Each definition opens with one clear sentence, followed by as much explanation as needed. You will find the terms in four groups.
Menopause stages and definitions
Menopause
Menopause means the permanent end of menstrual cycles. You only know your last period was menopause once you have gone 12 months without a period after it (NHS, Menopause: symptoms).
Perimenopause
Perimenopause means the transition period around menopause. According to STRAW+10, it starts when cycle lengths become variable and ends 12 months after the last period (Harlow et al., 2012). According to the NHS, symptoms during this time usually last 7–9 years.
Premenopause
Premenopause means the reproductive years from the first period up to perimenopause. In everyday language it is sometimes used to mean the same thing as perimenopause, so it is worth checking which meaning is intended.
Postmenopause
Postmenopause means all the years after the last period. STRAW+10 divides this time into early postmenopause, the first 5–8 years when hormones are still changing, and late postmenopause after that (Harlow et al., 2012).
STRAW+10
STRAW+10 means the international staging system that divides a woman’s reproductive life into stages based on her menstrual pattern. It was updated in 2011. The main criterion for the stages is the menstrual pattern; hormone measurements are only supportive criteria (Harlow et al., 2012).
Early menopause
Early menopause means periods stopping permanently before age 45. It can be caused by surgery, cancer treatment or unknown causes (NHS).
Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI)
Premature ovarian insufficiency means the ovaries largely losing their function before age 40. STRAW+10 defines it by the criterion of having no period for 4 months under age 40; it is also known by its older name, premature ovarian failure (Harlow et al., 2012).
Surgical menopause
Surgical menopause means menopause that begins when both ovaries are removed in an operation. Because hormone production stops all at once, symptoms usually start soon after surgery. Removing only the womb (uterus) does not immediately bring on menopause if the ovaries are kept.
Hormones and tests in menopause
FSH
FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) means the hormone released by the pituitary gland in the brain that stimulates the ovaries. It rises as the ovaries respond less, but it fluctuates in perimenopause. STRAW+10 describes FSH as high but variable during the transition (Harlow et al., 2012). Details are in FSH and AMH explained.
Estradiol
Estradiol means the main type of estrogen made by the ovaries. It rises and falls in perimenopause, drops in the first years after menopause and then settles at a low level (Harlow et al., 2012).
AMH
AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone) means the hormone released by small follicles in the ovary, which reflects the number of eggs remaining. It falls as the number of eggs declines with age. According to MedlinePlus, an AMH test cannot predict when you will reach menopause (MedlinePlus, AMH test).
DEXA (bone density scan)
DEXA means a low-dose X-ray method that measures calcium and other minerals in the bones. The result is given as a T-score. According to MedlinePlus, the T-score can be used when interpreting results in women after menopause (MedlinePlus, Bone density scan).
Symptoms and conditions in menopause
Vasomotor symptom
A vasomotor symptom means a heat-related symptom linked to blood vessels widening and narrowing. Hot flashes and night sweats belong to this group. According to STRAW+10, these symptoms are most common in the late transition and early postmenopause (Harlow et al., 2012).
Hot flash
A hot flash (hot flush) means a feeling of heat that suddenly spreads across the face, neck and chest. According to the NHS, it may come with sweating, palpitations, anxiety or dizziness (NHS, Menopause: symptoms). Details are in hot flashes.
Night sweats
Night sweats means hot flashes that happen during sleep and often wake you up. Because they break up sleep, they can lead to daytime tiredness and absent-mindedness.
GSM (genitourinary syndrome of menopause)
GSM means the set of symptoms and signs in the genital area and urinary tract caused by a lack of estrogen. Dryness, burning, pain during sex, frequent or sudden urges to urinate and recurrent urinary tract infections are part of this picture. Reviews stress that GSM is a chronic condition that can progress over time (Valadares et al., 2022).
Vaginal atrophy
Vaginal atrophy means vaginal tissue becoming thinner and drier as estrogen falls. It is an older term; today it is considered part of the term GSM, which also covers urinary symptoms (Valadares et al., 2022).
Amenorrhea
Amenorrhea means not having periods. In STRAW+10, amenorrhea lasting 60 days or more is a sign of the late transition stage; 12 months of amenorrhea shows that the last period was menopause (Harlow et al., 2012).
Menorrhagia
Menorrhagia means heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding. According to the NHS, signs include changing your pad every 1–2 hours, periods lasting longer than 7 days and clots larger than about 2.5 cm. It can also happen as you approach menopause (NHS, Heavy periods).
Postmenopausal bleeding
Postmenopausal bleeding means any vaginal bleeding that happens more than 12 months after the last period. Even if it is light or happens only once, the NHS says you should see a doctor (NHS, Menopause: symptoms).
Health monitoring in menopause
Osteopenia
Osteopenia means bone density that is below normal but above the threshold for osteoporosis. According to MedlinePlus, a DEXA T-score between -1.0 and -2.4 falls into this range (MedlinePlus, Bone density scan).
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis means bones becoming weak and breaking easily. A DEXA T-score of -2.5 or lower suggests osteoporosis (MedlinePlus, Bone density scan). The NHS lists loss of bone density among menopause symptoms. Details are in bone health and osteoporosis.
Symptom diary
A symptom diary means a notebook or digital record in which period dates and symptoms are noted regularly. Because the menstrual pattern is the main criterion for menopause stages, this record shows a pattern that a clinician cannot see from a single test.
The most commonly confused menopause terms
| Term | Often confused with | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Perimenopause | Premenopause | Perimenopause is the transition years; premenopause is the reproductive years before the transition |
| Menopause | Postmenopause | Menopause is the last period; postmenopause is all the years after it |
| Early menopause | Premature ovarian insufficiency | Age cut-off of 45 versus 40 |
| Osteopenia | Osteoporosis | T-score between -1.0 and -2.4; -2.5 and below |
Why does knowing these terms help you?
Using the same language when you talk to your clinician helps you describe your situation more clearly. Knowing what is meant when a report says “amenorrhea” or “vasomotor symptom” makes it easier to ask questions about the result. If you don’t understand a term, it is always fine to ask your clinician, “What does this mean for me?” The terms are only a framework; what best describes your experience is still your own observations and records. Coming back to this glossary can also help when you prepare your questions before an appointment.