​Pathology - Menopause 
This symptoms occurs in women, most commonly in late fifth or early sixth decade of life. The diagnosis is most typically made clinically when a women of this age range ceases to have menstrual cycles for a straight 12-month time frame. Menopause is the outcome of a natural decline in ovarian production of estrogen and progesterone, clinically noticeable as a woman begins to experience more erratic and unpredictable menstrual cycles and ceases releasing viable eggs each month. While this decline in hormone production occurs across years (perimenopausal era), eventually menses will halt for 12 months or more at which time menopause is stated to have happened. Menopause that happens before the age of 40 and owing to extrinsic causes such as hysterectomy or chemotherapy is termed to be premature. Decreased hormone production in menopause is responsible for the common symptoms experienced by most women, including hot flashes (thought to be due to hypothalamic dysregulation), vaginal dryness and dyspareunia (due to atrophic changes in tissues supported by estrogen), and sleep abnormalities (thought to be due to loss of estrogenic effects on nervous tissue responsible for sleep/wake regulation).
Laboratory assessment of this disorder is usually not essential. If examined, blood FSH level will be significantly elevated as a result of pituitary reaction to low circulating estrogen levels.