Menopause

Menopause refers to the cessation of menses. However, sociocultural definitions beyond the biological facts reflect differences between cultures. The feelings that a woman holds about herself and her social relationships, as well as the symptoms she experiences, can be defined by the culture in which she lives. It is the cultural definition that is the source of meaning women use to assess their expectations. Examples of such variance are described among women in the United States, Europe, the Middle Eastern, China, and Japan and among South African Indian women and rural Mayan Indians.