Final answer:
Increased FSH levels are associated with the transition into menopause as ovaries lose sensitivity to FSH and LH, leading to the cessation of menstruation and reproductive capacity.
Step-by-step explanation:
FSH, or follicle-stimulating hormone, plays a pivotal role in the regulation of the menstrual cycle. As women approach menopause, typically in their mid-40s to mid-50s, their ovaries begin to lose sensitivity to FSH and LH (luteinizing hormone), leading to less frequent menstrual periods until they cease altogether. With the decrease in inhibin levels, a hormone that usually controls FSH production through a negative feedback loop to the pituitary gland, FSH levels increase as menopause approaches. However, even with elevated FSH levels, the ovaries' follicles undergo atresia and are not stimulated enough to produce a viable egg. A diagnostic level of FSH indicative of menopause is not clearly defined here; however, it is understood that increased FSH levels are associated with the transition into menopause and the eventual loss of reproductive capacity