[Physiopathology of the menopause]

The ageing of the ovary is marked by a diminution of the number of follicles and often of a decrease of the secretion of inhibine which entails the augmentation of the pituitary secretion. Although the menopausal ovary may not be absolutely inactive, its suddenly diminished secretory capacity then leads to a considerable fall of oestrogenic secretion. The author explains all the phenomena which allow the physiopathology of hot flushes to be assessed, and states the principal hypotheses which claim to explain them.