The aging woman

摘要

When does (sexual) aging begin? Aging is the natural progression of changes in structure and function that occurs with the passage of time in the absence of known disease [1]. Women experience reproductive aging (hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis) superimposed on chronological aging. Reproductive aging begins at birth, with the progressive destruction of the oocyte reserve, and proceeds as a continuum. It reaches an essentially non-functional state (menopause) much earlier than other body systems and at a time in which women are otherwise healthy [1]. Much of the research on the relative effects of reproductive aging has focused on the menopause [2-6].