英文原文：https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menopause
中文條目：https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9B%B4%E5%B9%B4%E6%9C%9F
（原中文引言，歡迎參酌引用）
更年期是女性生命中一個自然的現象。婦女到了四十五至五十五歲之間，卵巢開始缺乏足夠卵胞來接受腦下垂體分泌的刺激，以致週期性的雌雄激素及孕激素越來越少，影響子宮內膜週期性的增厚、剝落及出血。結果月經週期變得不規則，時早時遲，經量時多時少。一般而言這些情況會持續一段時期，直至月經不來。當婦女超過一年以上沒有月經，才可說是絕經。
香港醫院管理局在2009年所進行的一項研究表示，婦女更年期的情緒症狀可以維持到60歲甚至更後，年長婦女由更年期開始出現脾氣暴躁將會正常化。[1]
Menopause, also known as the climacteric, is the time in most women’s lives when menstrual periods(月經) stop permanently, and they are no longer able to have children(生育能力).[1][2] Menopause typically occurs between 45 and 55 years of age.[1] Medical professionals often define menopause as having occurred when a woman has not had any vaginal bleeding for a year.[3] It may also be defined by a decrease in hormone(激素) production by the ovaries(卵巢).[4] In those who have had surgery to remove their uterus(子宫) but they still have ovaries, menopause may be viewed to have occurred at the time of the surgery or when their hormone levels fell.[4] Following the removal of the uterus, symptoms typically occur earlier, at an average of 45 years of age.[5]
’’’更年期’’’（{{lang|en|Menopause}}），又稱為’’’絕經期’’’，是指女性生命中永遠不再會有[[月經]]的時期，同時也永久失去[[生育能力]][1][2]。更年期通常發生於45歲到55歲之間[1]。醫學上通常認為女性若在一年內沒有任何月經來潮即為進入更年期[3]。更年期還可按照[[卵巢]]的[[女性賀爾蒙]]分泌能力下降判定[4] 。對於[[子宮]]經由手術移除但仍保有卵巢的婦女而言，手術與賀爾蒙分泌水平降低均可視為更年期的起點[4] 。在子宮移除後，更年期癥狀一般會提前發生，平均年齡大約是45歲[5]。
Before menopause, a woman’s periods typically become irregular, which means that periods may be longer or shorter in duration, or be lighter or heavier in terms of the amount of flow. During this time, women often experience hot flashes(潮熱); these typically last from 30 seconds to ten minutes, and may be associated with shivering, sweating(汗液) and reddening of the skin.[6] Hot flashes often stop occurring after a year or two.[2] Other symptoms may include vaginal dryness(陰道分泌液), trouble sleeping, and mood changes.[6] The severity of symptoms varies between women.[2] While menopause is often thought to be linked to an increase in heart disease(心血管疾病), this primarily occurs due to increasing age and does not have a direct relationship with menopause. In some women, problems that were previously present like endometriosis(子宮內膜異位症) or painful periods(經痛) will improve after menopause.[2]
更年期前，女性的生理週期常會變得不規律，即經期長短或血量會發生變化。這時女性常有持續潮熱感，一般會持續三十秒至十分鐘，並伴有身體發抖、流汗與[[潮熱|皮膚發紅]。這種潮熱感一般會在一至兩年後消失。其他症狀還包括[[陰道乾燥]]、睡眠障礙，以及情緒變化，但症狀輕重各異。儘管更年期被認為與患[[心血管疾病]]的機率增加有關，但其增加主要是因為年齡的增長而與更年期並無直接關聯。更年期後，一些女性患有的[[子宮內膜異位症]]或[[經痛]]會有所好轉。
Menopause is usually a natural change.[7] It can occur earlier in those who smoke tobacco(吸菸).[3][8] Other causes include surgery that removes both ovaries(卵巢), or some types of chemotherapy(化学疗法).[3] At the physiological level, menopause happens because of a decrease in the ovaries’ production of the hormones estrogen(雌激素) andprogesterone(孕酮).[1] While typically not needed, a diagnosis of menopause can be confirmed by measuring hormone levels in either the blood or urine.[9] Menopause is the opposite of menarche(初潮), the time at which a girl’s periods start.[10]
更年期通常是一個正常的轉變。有[[吸菸]]的婦女更年期可能會更早到來 。其他更年期提前的原因包括了移除兩側[[卵巢]]的手術，或者是某些類型的[[化療]]。從生理的角度來看，卵巢內的荷爾蒙[[雌激素]]和[[孕酮]]的產量下降造成了更年期。更年期可藉測量血液或尿液中賀爾蒙量確診，但通常不需要使用。更年期與女性[[初潮]]相反是代表月經的結束 。
Specific treatment is not usually needed. Some symptoms, however, may be improved with treatment. With respect to hot flashes, avoiding smoking, caffeine, and alcohol is often recommended. Sleeping in a cool room and using a fan may also help.[11] The following medications may help: menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), clonidine, gabapentin(加巴喷丁), orselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(选择性5-羟色胺再摄取抑制剂).[11][12] Exercise may help with sleeping problems. While MHT was once routinely prescribed, it is now only recommended in those with significant symptoms, as there are concerns about side effects.[11] High-quality evidence for the effectiveness of alternative medicine(替代医学) has not been found.[2]
更年期一般不需要專門治療。但是某些癥狀可透過治療改善。以熱潮紅來說，醫生常會建議患者戒煙、咖啡因以及酒精。在涼爽或是有風扇設備的房間睡覺，則能增進睡眠品質。針對更年期的[[賀爾蒙替代療法]]對病人的健康是有正面幫助的，[[降保適錠]]、[[加巴噴丁]]或[[選擇性血清回收抑制劑]]都屬此類藥物。賀爾蒙替代療法曾經被廣泛用於治療更年期症狀，鑒於其副作用，該療法目前只用於處理症狀嚴重的病例。現階段尚沒有發現有任何可確實有效幫助患者的[[另類療法]]。
2016.06.11已整合到維基百科上