Facts and Figures
Menopause is the point in a woman’s life when menstruation stops permanently, signifying the end of fertility. It is considered to have occurred when a woman has been without her menstrual period for 1 year; on average this occurs at about age 50.

Perimenopause
Perimenopause is the transitional phase prior to natural menopause usually beginning three to five years prior to a woman’s final menstrual period.   Fluctuations in hormone levels commonly characterize this phase. 

Menopause
The second phase of the process is when ovulation and menses cease. Menopause is technically confirmed when a woman has not had her menstrual period for twelve consecutive months.

Menopause can also be confirmed with a simple blood test that measures the levels of FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone).  These hormones are made by the pituitary gland to stimulate the ovary to produce eggs. 

Induced Menopause
"Every year, approximately 600,000 women in the U.S. have hysterectomies - and each one of these women has questions, as do their husbands, boyfriends, children and friends. Their concerns may be about recovery - "When will I be able to exercise following the surgery?" "Will I have hot flashes?" - or about the procedure itself - "What exactly does the surgery entail?" "How long will it last, and how will I feel afterward?"

Postmenopause is the stage in a woman’s life that follows menopause.  Hormone production further decreases leading to bone loss and the risk of heart disease.  Approximately 36 million American women will live more than one-third of their lives beyond the onset of menopause.

Menopause Tales
Do you ever feel like you’re the only one going through menopause?  The following stories are from Red Hot Mamas website readers and members.  Scroll through these “menopause tales” and see how other women view and manage their bodies as they experience the change.  Enjoy!

Free Symptom Assessment
In short order you’ll have the results you need to understand where you are in this midlife transition.Then we’ll share with you how to find relief for your symptoms given your unique situation.