For those women who have yet to experience the joys of menopause, a few remarks on what you might expect. Some women drench their sheets from sweat on a regular basis; others have difficulty controlling emotions; and then there are others who initiate divorce during the menopause years.
Oh, what the loss of those hormones can do.
This hormonal change, which starts on average at 51, also is blamed for vaginal dryness, incontinence, insomnia, and fat gain. To quote actress Whoopi Goldberg:
“It’s too hot! Nobody told me it’s going to last as long as it feels like it’s lasting. And sneezing is a new experience.”
Menopause can last a long time. According to Stephanie Faubion, MD, medical director of The North American Menopause Society and director of the Center for Women’s Health at the Mayo Clinic, it can last up to 10 years. “We now know that the mean duration of symptoms is seven to nine years,” and for a third of…
