Menopause

Hot flashes—perhaps the most dreaded symptom of menopause, and the most common as well. Menopause is defined as the stopping of the menstrual period for at least 12 consecutive months. The average age for menopause is 51, and in the US 1.3 million women reach this milestone every year. Many women experience only mild discomfort, but others are not so fortunate.

Perimenopause refers to the stage in a woman’s life that precedes menopause, which is determined to be when menstruation has stopped for at least 12 months. The average age of menopause is 51 years old, but the period leading up to that, perimenopause, typically begins in the mid-40s, sometimes earlier-- and occasionally much earlier! Perimenopausal symptoms can be disruptive and distressing, especially for women who are not anticipating them.