Endocrinology of the ageing female; the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis goes through a series of complicated, but well coordinated changes as a women enters the menopausal transition. The reproductive consequences of these changes are obvious, but there are also a number of general health consequences as well. As our understanding of the complex inter-workings of the HPO axis evolves, we will be better able to predict menopausal events and create strategies and treatments to optimize women's health as the progress through the menopausal transition.