Menopause affects each woman differently. Some women have severe symptoms that last for years while many women experience no symptoms besides cessation of their periods. Because the levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone start declining long before periods cease to occur, some women start experiencing symptoms years before menopause occurs. After one year without any menstrual flow, you are said to have passed through menopause. The time between the onset of any symptoms and one year after your last period is called perimenopause. These symptoms may last for years after menopause has been reached, a period of time called postmenopause.

Not all body changes that affect women in their 40s and 50s are the result of hormonal changes; some changes are due to other factors in the aging process. Some of the common symptoms that are associated with the hormonal changes of menopause include:

• Irregular periods (can be shorter or longer, lighter or heavier, more or less time between periods).
• Decreased fertility.
• Vaginal dryness.
• Hot flashes or night sweats.
• Sleep disturbances (with or without night sweats).
• Mood swings or hyper-emotionality.
• Trouble focusing, feeling mixed-up or confused.
• Thinning hair on your head or more hair growth on your face.
• Increased abdominal fat.
• Changes is sex drive.
• Loss of breast fullness.

After menopause, women are more vulnerable to heart disease, bone loss, and osteoporosis.