Climacteric

Climacteric is a term used in botany and plant physiology to describe a stage in the ripening of certain fruits. During the climacteric phase, the fruit exhibits a rise in respiration rate and increased production of ethylene, a plant hormone. This climacteric burst triggers and accompanies biochemical and physical changes associated with ripening, such as softening, color development, starch breakdown, and sugar accumulation. Not all fruits undergo this process; climacteric fruits include banana, apple, pear, plum, avocado, tomato, and melon. Non-climacteric fruits, such as grape, citrus, strawberry, and pineapples, do not show a pronounced respiratory rise during ripening.

In human biology and medicine, climacteric denotes the transition around menopause when reproductive capacity declines. It generally refers to the period leading up to and including menopause, often called perimenopause, and the cessation of menses followed by a postmenopausal phase. The typical age range is mid-40s to mid-50s, though variation is common. The climacteric is driven by diminished production of ovarian hormones, especially estrogen and progesterone, and can be accompanied by vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes), sleep disturbance, vaginal changes, and mood or sleep issues. In some contexts, the term historically also described the broader aging of the male reproductive axis, but this usage is less common today.