ABSTRACT
It is established that climacteric complaints are caused by the decline of ovarian function, i.e. by the decrease of estradiol and the cessation of progesterone production. The oophoropause is the consequence of burn out of the follicles and their hormoneproducing cells and of early atherosclerotic changes of the ovarian vessels.1-3
The fact that castration of a sexually mature woman causes symptoms comparable to a spontaneous menopause, but which occur more rapidly, more intensively and for longer, is dramatic proof of the ovarian cause of the process. The oophorectomy model is also widely used as verification of the source of climacteric symptoms4-6 and for the evaluation of therapeutic substances.
