Biology · Human Reproduction · NEET
Menarche is the FIRST menstruation, and it begins at puberty. It marks the start of the reproductive phase. Menopause is the STOPPING of menstrual cycles, and it happens around 50 years of age. So menarche = start, menopause = end. Menstrual cycles keep repeating in between these two events.
Menarche occurs at puberty in human females. NCERT does not give one fixed number for menarche age, so for NEET just remember it happens 'at puberty' and is the first menstruation. Menopause, on the other hand, happens 'around 50 years of age' — that number IS given in NCERT, so learn it.
The first menstruation is called MENARCHE. This was directly asked in NEET 2025. Do not confuse it with menopause (the last cycles) or ovulation (release of the ovum). Only menarche means the first menstrual bleeding at puberty.
Menopause means the END, not the start. It is the cessation (stopping) of the menstrual cycle around age 50. Students often mix it up because both words start with 'men'. Remember: menopause has 'pause' in it, and a pause stops things. So menopause = cycles stop.
Cyclic menstruation extends between MENARCHE and MENOPAUSE. Menstruation begins at menarche and repeats about every 28/29 days until it finally stops at menopause. NEET 2023 tested this exact statement, and it is correct.
No. Menarche is the first menstruation (bleeding at puberty). Ovulation is the release of the ovum from the ovary, which happens roughly on day 14 of each cycle. They are different events. NEET options often list ovulation as a wrong choice for 'first menstruation'.
The first menstruation is called:
Which of the following statements are correct regarding female reproductive cycle? A. In non-primate mammals cyclical changes during reproduction are called oestrus cycle. B. First menstrual cycle begins at puberty and is called menopause. C. Lack of menstruation may be indicative of pregnancy. D. Cyclic menstruation extends between menarche and menopause.
Try the real previous-year questions from this chapter — each with the answer and a full solution.
Menarche is the first menstruation, which begins at puberty in human females.
Menopause is the stopping (cessation) of menstrual cycles, which happens around 50 years of age.
NCERT gives 'around 50 years of age' for menopause. For menarche it only says 'at puberty', so remember menarche = puberty and menopause = around 50.
No. Menstrual cycles stop during pregnancy. In fact, NCERT notes that lack of menstruation may be a sign of pregnancy.
It is a direct one-mark scoring topic. NEET 2025 and NEET 2023 both tested menarche and menopause, so learning these two words correctly is easy marks.
