Menarche vs Menopause: Difference and Comparison

A woman’s body has a high bone density around the time she reaches menarche.

When women reach menarche, estrogen, known as the female hormone, is discovered in higher concentrations in their bodies. A woman’s body suffers from reduced bone density as menopause approaches.

The amount of estrogen, or female hormone, in the bodies of women approaching menopause drops gradually.

Key Takeaways

1. Menarche marks the onset of menstruation in females, while menopause signifies the end.
2. Menarche occurs in adolescence, while menopause happens between 45 and 55.
3. Menarche is a sign of fertility beginning, whereas menopause indicates the end of a woman’s fertile years.

Menarche vs Menopause

Menarche is used to describe a girl’s first menstrual period, which occurs around the age of 12 or 13, although it can happen as early as 8 or as late as 16. Menopause is the time when a woman’s menstrual periods stop permanently. Menopause occurs around the age of 45 to 55.

Menarche is the beginning of the menstrual cycle.

At the time of menarche, the number of minerals present in a certain section of the bone, otherwise known as bone mass, grows due to the varying levels of hormones in the human body.

A woman’s body experiences high bone density around the time of menarche. At the time of menarche, estrogen, known as the female hormone, is discovered in increased concentrations in women’s bodies.

A woman’s body develops reduced bone density as menopause approaches. The level of estrogen, or female hormone, in the bodies of women approaching menopause diminishes gradually.

The body of a woman has many negative effects when she enters menopause. Mood changes, dry skin, weight gain, sleeplessness, anxiety, and hair loss are some of the negative effects.

Menopause is defined as the end of a woman’s reproductive life.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Menarche	Menopause
Phase	Beginning	Ending
Pregnancy	Can become pregnant	Can not become pregnant
Estrogen level	High	Low
Bone density	High	Low
Age	11-16	45-50
Reproduction	Capable	Incapable

What is Menarche?

When menarche approaches a woman’s life, the body goes through a variety of changes. Acne, irritability, mood swings, and cramping are among the common side effects.

Menarche is said to be the start of a woman’s reproductive life. At this period, women have a chance of becoming pregnant.

Menarche, on the other hand, is the start of the menstrual cycle.

At the time of menarche, the number of minerals present in a specific portion of the bone, also known as bone mass, grows due to the varying levels of hormones in the human body.

A woman’s body has a high bone density around the time of menarche.

Menarche is a normal and biological process that takes place inside the female body. Women begin to menstruate when they reach puberty, which occurs between the ages of 11 and 16.

At the time of menarche, estrogen, known as the female hormone, is discovered in increased concentrations in the bodies of women.

What is Menopause?

The body of a woman develops reduced bone density as menopause approaches. The level of estrogen, or female hormone, in the body of women approaching menopause diminishes gradually.

The body of a woman goes through various changes when she reaches menopause.

Mood changes, dry skin, weight gain, insomnia, anxiety, and hair loss are some of the negative effects. Menopause is the term used to describe the end of a woman’s reproductive life.

Women who have gone through menopause are no longer capable of becoming pregnant.

The menopause process is a phase of the menstrual cycle, which is the final stage of the cycle that occurs inside a woman’s body. Menopause happens when a woman reaches the age of 45 to 50.

When menopause approaches, the amount and quantity of bone mass in women’s bodies decreases due to shifting hormone levels in their bodies.

Main Differences Between Menarche and Menopause

1. The process of Menarche is a natural and biological process that occurs inside the body of a woman. When the women hit puberty, around the age range of 11 to 16 years, they get their menstruation. However, the beginning of the menstrual cycle is known as Menarche. On the other hand, the process of menopause is a part of the menstrual cycle which is considered the last stage of the cycle occurring inside the women’s body. When the age of women hits around 45 to 50 years, menopause occurs.
2. Due to the fluctuating level of hormones in the human body, the number of minerals that are present in a certain part of the bone, otherwise called bone mass, increases at the time of menarche. On the other hand, due to varying levels of hormones in women’s bodies, the amount and quantity of bone mass decrease when menopause approaches.
3. At the time of menarche, a woman’s body experiences high bone density. On the other hand, at the time when menopause approaches, a woman’s body experiences low bone density.
4. The level of estrogen, otherwise called the female hormone, can be found at higher levels in the body of women at the time of menarche. On the other hand, the level of the female hormone, or estrogen in the body of women whose menopause is approaching decreases slowly.
5. At the time of women’s life, when menarche approaches, the body undergoes various types of changes. Some of the side effects that are witnessed are acne, irritability, mood swings, and cramps. On the other hand, at the time of onset of menopause, women’s body faces several side effects. The side effects include mood swings, drying skin, weight gain, sleeplessness, anxiety, and hair loss.
6. Menarche is considered the beginning phase of the reproductive life of women. Women possess the potential to become pregnant at this time. On the other hand, menopause is considered the ending of the reproductive life of women. Women after experiencing menopause do not possess the potential to become pregnant anymore.

References

1. https://www.jstor.org/stable/41465935
2. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.2217/17455057.5.2.175

Last Updated : 20 July, 2023