Final answer:
Menopause is primarily caused by reduced estrogen production as the ovaries become less sensitive to gonadotropins and stop producing hormones.
Step-by-step explanation:
The many changes of menopause are caused by reduced estrogen production.
During this time, the ovaries progressively become less sensitive to gonadotropins, leading to a decrease in hormone levels.
Follicles, which produce both progesterone and estrogen, stop responding to gonadotropic hormones, resulting in decreased levels of these hormones.
This decline in hormone production contributes to the end of the menstrual cycle and the onset of menopause.
Furthermore, the pituitary hormones LH and FSH, which stimulate the ovaries, continuously increase because they are no longer regulated by estrogen's negative feedback.
However, despite the high levels of LH and FSH, the ovaries do not respond, leading to the cessation of the estrogen and progesterone that previously regulated the menstrual cycle.
Concerning the utilization of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to address menopause symptoms, it is controversial due to potential risks such as increased likelihood of breast cancer, stroke, and heart disease.
Therefore, many doctors consider these risks when recommending HRT to their patients, opting for caution in its prescription.