Climacteric

Climacteric is a term that generally signifies a critical point or stage in development. It is also used as another term for menopause and andropause.

Menopause is natural biological change in a woman's menstrual cycle that signals the woman's ability to reproduce is ending and includes hormonal changes and side effects such as hot flashes.

Andropause (sometimes referred to as 'male menopause') is the gradual decline in hormones due to aging with a reduction in testosterone (an estimated loss of 1% every year after the age of 30) with symptoms such as sexual dysfunction, body changes (more fat and less muscle), sleep issues, and emotional changes.