Menopause

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.

In light of exceptionally delayed reproductive senescence exhibited by a 64 year old female chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) housed in Florida, endocrinal analyses meant to determine the state of her current reproductive viability were conducted. Urine was collected from the study subject for a period of 88 days spaced within an interim of roughly 6 months and the specimens were sent to the Hominoid Reproductive Ecology Laboratory for assessment. Additional data was collected from three control females in order to provide a basis of comparison against the hormonal markers present in the geriatric study animal. Results indicate that the geriatric female does not presently appear to be cycling, but nor does she exhibit signs of complete reproductive cessation. This could signify that Pan troglodytes adheres to a pattern of reproductive aging not necessarily shared by Homo sapiens, which has further implications for the evolutionary trajectory of menopause in the human female.