Abstract
According to the popular view and many experts, the menopause, or so-called “change of life, ” is thought to represent a major cultural, psychological, and physiological milestone for women during the middle years. It signifies the end of reproduction in societies such as the United States, where sexuality and reproduction are considered evidence of personal success and fulfillment. It is a prominent biological marker for an aging process in cultures that extol youth-fulness. The menopause is even perceived as a major negative life event of the same magnitude as, for example, job loss or loss of a spouse. Consequently, it is thought to be accompanied by increases in morbidity and health care utilization, commensurate with the increases observed for such other negative life events.
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McKinlay, S.M., McKinlay, J.B. (1986). Health Status and Health Care Utilization by Menopausal Women. In: Mastroianni, L., Paulsen, C.A. (eds) Aging, Reproduction, and the Climacteric. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5047-7_15
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5047-7_15
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