Usually, between the ages of 45 and 55 years of age, a womans ovaries cease to produce eggs, her body begins to produce less progesterone and estrogen, and menstruation begins to slow down, eventually stopping altogether. This is known as menopause, and is something that happens to every woman. However, these symptoms differ from person to person, and, while one woman will experience it moderately, there are others who suffer severely, and those who are very fortunate, and have hardly any symptoms at all.

For instance, menstrual flow in many women stops suddenly, but more often than not, it is a gradual process, and may sometimes take as long as one to three years, before menstruation finally comes to an end. During this time, periods become irregular, and are either more closely spaced, or further apart than normal.

There are several regular symptoms of menopause, which some women experience more severely than others. She will experience a racing or pounding of her heart, have hot flashes and night sweats, have times when her skin becomes flushed for no apparent reason, and may also have bouts of insomnia as well. Other symptoms that many women go through during this time, are a total disinterest in sex, which also has them unresponsive to sexual stimulation as well. There are women that complain of having mood swings, being depressed and anxious, becoming irritable very quickly, headaches, and in some cases as well, forgetful.

Apart from the erratic periods, women can also experience times when they leak urine, and dryness in the vaginal area, which of course, leads to sexual intercourse being painful. Menopause can also cause the joints to become painful, and, as mentioned earlier, result in improper heartbeat, or palpitations too.

Should you have mood swings, night sweats, dryness in the vaginal area, or hot flashes, you could consider hormonal treatment, which might be helpful, but you should discuss this in depth with your doctor, before making a final decision. He or she will advise you as to the benefits of taking hormones, as well as any possible risks they carry as well. Your doctor should know everything about your medical history before prescribing hormone treatment for you, and he or she should also tell you about the other options you have, that do not involve hormonal therapy.

The positive side of all of this is that there are ways to reduce these symptoms without having to take hormones, which include some simple lifestyle changes like avoiding caffeine, foods that are spicy, as well as alcohol. Including soy foods in your diet is also helpful, and also adequate supplements of vitamin D and calcium.

Dress lightly, layering your clothing, get plenty of exercise, including Kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic and vaginal muscles, and stay sexually active as well, using lubricants that are water based during intercourse. If you feel a hot flash approaching, breathe deeply and slowly, about six breaths in one minute, and get involved in relaxation activities like tai chi, meditation, and yoga.

If something unusual happens during this time, such as sudden vaginal bleeding or spotting after not having your period for about a year, or, if you find that you are spotting blood in between periods, then it is advisable to speak to your doctor immediately.