Some women rejoice. They view menopause as a change all right – a change for the better! After all, they can wave a fond farewell to PMS, cysts, fibroids, child-rearing responsibilities, and worries about pregnancy. And, the best part is FREEDOM from monthly periods.

Menopause often coincides with a time in a woman’s life when she is beginning to come into her own. Scientifically speaking, postmenopausal women are least likely of all women to be depressed. They may have a greater sense of well-being than at any other point in their lives. Many older women are leaders in their communities and respected members of extended families. Menopause offers the proud owner of a 45 – 55 year old body, a new lease on life! Physically, emotionally, sexually, and spiritually.

Of course, it’s normal to grieve the loss of an old friend. Even if she was a bit of an inconvenience. And even if she did seem to show up at the worst moments. Thirty plus years is what you’d call a long relationship. That’s why menopause can also be a time when a woman mourns the loss of her fertility and youth and worries about aging and illness. The good news is that society and the medical community have started to view menopause as an important life event. And it’s about time. There is a wealth of information available in books, on the Internet and through support groups. Menopause is truly a rite of passage. Vow to emerge from it with a sense of renewal and anticipation of a new life to come.

Physical Changes.
Menopause is the time at "mid-life," around 45-55 years old, when a woman's last menstrual period ends and she is no longer able to become pregnant. It happens when the ovaries stop releasing eggs. Sometimes it happens all at once. Sometimes it is a gradual change. Sometimes it is a lurching, stop and start process that takes years. It can affect a woman's hormones, body and feelings.

"Perimenopause" is the gradual period of change leading into menopause. For most women it will last two or three years, though for some it lasts as long as 10 or 12 years. The ovaries' production of estrogen slows down, making hormones fluctuate and causing attendant physical changes.

While menopause usually occurs around age 50, it can happen earlier due to heredity, health conditions, exposure to radiation or chemotherapeutic agents, surgical removal of the ovaries, or any surgery which compromises blood flow to the ovaries. Surgical menopause occurs if the ovaries are removed or damaged -- as in a radical hysterectomy or chemotherapy. Surgical menopause begins immediately, with no perimenopause. Temporary "stress menopause" occurs when women in their late 30s or older have no periods for long stretches of time. It can be caused by emotional strain, chemotherapy, grief or illness.

Symptoms.
There are women who sail through menopause. Contrary to what you may have heard, they do exist. Scientific evidence proves it. But what happens when you hit menopause and it hits back? Hot flashes. Mood swings. Vaginal dryness. What’s going on? The effects of menopause aren't limited to the reproductive organs. Ovaries are much more than egg production factories. They're also glands, secreting the wildly popular hormones estrogen and progesterone. During the perimenopausal years, changing hormone levels can cause erratic, irregular periods, some much heavier than normal. But the symptoms are different for everyone. Interestingly, some studies show that passing through the transition period makes women a bit more vulnerable to stress which may be interpreted as moodiness.

Finally, if you would like to know more about menopause, talk to a healthcare professional. He or she should be able to answer your questions and work with you to find solutions.

Resources.
Arm yourself with information here:

North American Menopause Society
http://www.menopause.org/