Has medicalization of menopause been a success?

In the 1960s and 70s, menopause was actively promoted by some members of the medical profession as a debilitating disease. The promotion extended from medical journals to popular books and magazines. Despite these efforts, by the 1980's and 90's, the medicalization of menopause has not been an unequivocal success. Using Conrad and Schneider's theory of the Medicalization of Deviance as a framework for my discussion, I provide evidence that medicalization is only partially successful. The promoters of the concept of menopause as a disease have succeeded in formulating this definition, have been partially successful in institutionalizing it, and failed to implement their goal of treating all menopausal women with estrogen.