Menopause
<p><b >Menopause</b> is a term used to describe the permanent cessation of the primary functions of the human <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovaries" title="Ovaries" class="mw-redirect" >ovaries</a><sup id="cite_ref-Whales_and_humans_linked_by.27helpful_grandmothers-BBC_News_0-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menopause#cite_note-Whales_and_humans_linked_by.27helpful_grandmothers-BBC_News-0" >[1]</a></sup>: the ripening and release of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovum" title="Ovum" >ova</a> and the release of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormone" title="Hormone" >hormones</a> that cause both the creation of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uterine_lining" title="Uterine lining" class="mw-redirect" >uterine lining</a> and the subsequent shedding of the uterine lining (a.k.a. the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menses" title="Menses" class="mw-redirect" >menses</a> or the period). Menopause typically (but not always) occurs in women in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midlife" title="Midlife" class="mw-redirect" >midlife</a>, during their late 40s or early 50s, and signals the end of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertility" title="Fertility" >fertile</a> phase of a woman's life.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menopause#cite_note-1" >[2]</a></sup></p>