AgePage

National Institute on Aging

Menopause

One cool fall day, Ellen and Sue were watching 

their teenagers play soccer when all of a sudden 

Ellen flushed and seemed to be sweating. Sue 

asked if Ellen was okay. “Oh, it’s a hot flash,” 

Ellen said. “This is happening to me several 

times a week now—even at night. At first, I 

didn’t know what was going on, but my doctor 

told me these are symptoms of menopause.” 

Sue laughed and said, “Yes, I remember hot 

flashes, but they’re over now.”

Menopause, or the “change of life,” is 

different for each woman. For example, 

hot flashes and sleep problems 

may trouble your sister. 

Meanwhile, you are 

enjoying a new 

sense of freedom 

and energy. And 

your best friend 

might hardly be aware 

of a change at all.
AgePage

National Institute on Aging

2 

Menopause

One cool fall day, Ellen and Sue were watching 

their teenagers play soccer when all of a sudden 

Ellen flushed and seemed to be sweating. Sue 

asked if Ellen was okay. “Oh, it’s a hot flash,” 

Ellen said. “This is happening to me several 

times a week now—even at night. At first, I 

didn’t know what was going on, but my doctor 

told me these are symptoms of menopause.” 

Sue laughed and said, “Yes, I remember hot 

flashes, but they’re over now.”

Menopause, or the “change of life,” is 

different for each woman. For example, 

hot flashes and sleep problems 

may trouble your sister. 

Meanwhile, you are 

enjoying a new 

sense of freedom 

and energy. And 

your best friend 

might hardly be aware 

of a change at all.

What Is Menopause?

Menopause is a normal part of life, just 

like puberty. It is the time of your last 

period, but symptoms can begin several 

years earlier. Some symptoms of 

menopause can last for months or years 

after. Changing levels of estrogen and 

progesterone, which are two female 

hormones made in your ovaries, might 

lead to these symptoms. 

This time of change is known as the 

menopausal transition, but it is also called 

perimenopause by many women and their 

doctors. It can begin several years before 

your last menstrual period. Perimenopause 

lasts for 1 year after your last period. After 

a full year without a period, you can say 

you have been “through menopause.” 

Postmenopause follows menopause and 

lasts the rest of your life. 

The average age of a woman having 

her last period, menopause, is 51. But, 

some women have their last period in 

their forties, and some have it later in 

their fifties. Smoking can lead to early 

menopause. So can some types of 

operations. For example, surgery to 

remove your uterus (called a hysterectomy) 

will make your periods stop, and that’s 

menopause. But you might not have 

menopause symptoms like hot flashes 
AgePage

National Institute on Aging

2 

Menopause

One cool fall day, Ellen and Sue were watching 

their teenagers play soccer when all of a sudden 

Ellen flushed and seemed to be sweating. Sue 

asked if Ellen was okay. “Oh, it’s a hot flash,” 

Ellen said. “This is happening to me several 

times a week now—even at night. At first, I 

didn’t know what was going on, but my doctor 

told me these are symptoms of menopause.” 

Sue laughed and said, “Yes, I remember hot 

flashes, but they’re over now.”

Menopause, or the “change of life,” is 

different for each woman. For example, 

hot flashes and sleep problems 

may trouble your sister. 

Meanwhile, you are 

enjoying a new 

sense of freedom 

and energy. And 

your best friend 

might hardly be aware 

of a change at all.

What Is Menopause?

Menopause is a normal part of life, just 

like puberty. It is the time of your last 

period, but symptoms can begin several 

years earlier. Some symptoms of 

menopause can last for months or years 

after. Changing levels of estrogen and 

progesterone, which are two female 

hormones made in your ovaries, might 

lead to these symptoms. 

This time of change is known as the 

menopausal transition, but it is also called 

perimenopause by many women and their 

doctors. It can begin several years before 

your last menstrual period. Perimenopause 

lasts for 1 year after your last period. After 

a full year without a period, you can say 

you have been “through menopause.” 

Postmenopause follows menopause and 

lasts the rest of your life. 

The average age of a woman having 

her last period, menopause, is 51. But, 

some women have their last period in 

their forties, and some have it later in 

their fifties. Smoking can lead to early 

menopause. So can some types of 

operations. For example, surgery to 

remove your uterus (called a hysterectomy) 

will make your periods stop, and that’s 

menopause. But you might not have 

menopause symptoms like hot flashes 
AgePage

National Institute on Aging

2 

Menopause

One cool fall day, Ellen and Sue were watching 

their teenagers play soccer when all of a sudden 

Ellen flushed and seemed to be sweating. Sue 

asked if Ellen was okay. “Oh, it’s a hot flash,” 

Ellen said. “This is happening to me several 

times a week now—even at night. At first, I 

didn’t know what was going on, but my doctor 

told me these are symptoms of menopause.” 

Sue laughed and said, “Yes, I remember hot 

flashes, but they’re over now.”

Menopause, or the “change of life,” is 

different for each woman. For example, 

hot flashes and sleep problems 

may trouble your sister. 

Meanwhile, you are 

enjoying a new 

sense of freedom 

and energy. And 

your best friend 

might hardly be aware 

of a change at all.

What Is Menopause?

Menopause is a normal part of life, just 

like puberty. It is the time of your last 

period, but symptoms can begin several 

years earlier. Some symptoms of 

menopause can last for months or years 

after. Changing levels of estrogen and 

progesterone, which are two female 

hormones made in your ovaries, might 

lead to these symptoms. 

This time of change is known as the 

menopausal transition, but it is also called 

perimenopause by many women and their 

doctors. It can begin several years before 

your last menstrual period. Perimenopause 

lasts for 1 year after your last period. After 

a full year without a period, you can say 

you have been “through menopause.” 

Postmenopause follows menopause and 

lasts the rest of your life. 

The average age of a woman having 

her last period, menopause, is 51. But, 

some women have their last period in 

their forties, and some have it later in 

their fifties. Smoking can lead to early 

menopause. So can some types of 

operations. For example, surgery to 

remove your uterus (called a hysterectomy) 

will make your periods stop, and that’s 

menopause. But you might not have 

menopause symptoms like hot flashes 
8 9 

Here are some ideas that have helped 

some women:

F Try to keep track of when hot 

flashes happen—a diary can help. 

You might be able to use this 

information to find out what 

triggers your flashes and then 

avoid those triggers.

F When a hot flash starts, try to go 

somewhere cool.

F If night sweats wake you, sleep 

in a cool room or with a fan on.

F Dress in layers that you can take 

off if you get too warm.

F Use sheets and clothing that let 

your skin “breathe.”

F Have a cold drink (water or juice) 

when a flash is starting.

You could also talk to your doctor 

about whether there are any medicines 

to manage hot flashes. A few drugs that 

are approved for other uses, for example, 

certain anti-depressants, seem to be 

helpful to some women. 

What About Those Lost 

Hormones?

These days you hear a lot about whether 

you should use hormones to help relieve 

F Do weight-bearing exercise, such as 

walking, jogging, or dancing, at least 

3 days each week for healthy bones. 

But try to be physically active in 

other ways for your general health.

Other things to remember:

F Take medicine if your doctor 

prescribes it for you, especially 

if it is for health problems you 

cannot see or feel—for example, 

high blood pressure, high 

cholesterol, or osteoporosis.

F Use a water-based vaginal lubricant 

(not petroleum jelly) or a vaginal 

estrogen cream or tablet to help 

with vaginal discomfort.

F Get regular pelvic and breast exams, 

Pap tests, and mammograms. You 

should also be checked for colon and 

rectal cancer and for skin cancer. 

Contact your doctor right away if 

you notice a lump in your breast 

or a mole that has changed.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) 

has publications on many of these topics. 

See For More Information to learn how to 

order your free copies.

Menopause is not a disease that has 

to be treated. But you might need help 

if symptoms like hot flashes bother you. 
8 9 

Here are some ideas that have helped 

some women:

F Try to keep track of when hot 

flashes happen—a diary can help. 

You might be able to use this 

information to find out what 

triggers your flashes and then 

avoid those triggers.

F When a hot flash starts, try to go 

somewhere cool.

F If night sweats wake you, sleep 

in a cool room or with a fan on.

F Dress in layers that you can take 

off if you get too warm.

F Use sheets and clothing that let 

your skin “breathe.”

F Have a cold drink (water or juice) 

when a flash is starting.

You could also talk to your doctor 

about whether there are any medicines 

to manage hot flashes. A few drugs that 

are approved for other uses, for example, 

certain anti-depressants, seem to be 

helpful to some women. 

What About Those Lost 

Hormones?

These days you hear a lot about whether 

you should use hormones to help relieve 

F Do weight-bearing exercise, such as 

walking, jogging, or dancing, at least 

3 days each week for healthy bones. 

But try to be physically active in 

other ways for your general health.

Other things to remember:

F Take medicine if your doctor 

prescribes it for you, especially 

if it is for health problems you 

cannot see or feel—for example, 

high blood pressure, high 

cholesterol, or osteoporosis.

F Use a water-based vaginal lubricant 

(not petroleum jelly) or a vaginal 

estrogen cream or tablet to help 

with vaginal discomfort.

F Get regular pelvic and breast exams, 

Pap tests, and mammograms. You 

should also be checked for colon and 

rectal cancer and for skin cancer. 

Contact your doctor right away if 

you notice a lump in your breast 

or a mole that has changed.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) 

has publications on many of these topics. 

See For More Information to learn how to 

order your free copies.

Menopause is not a disease that has 

to be treated. But you might need help 

if symptoms like hot flashes bother you. 
8 9 

Here are some ideas that have helped 

some women:

F Try to keep track of when hot 

flashes happen—a diary can help. 

You might be able to use this 

information to find out what 

triggers your flashes and then 

avoid those triggers.

F When a hot flash starts, try to go 

somewhere cool.

F If night sweats wake you, sleep 

in a cool room or with a fan on.

F Dress in layers that you can take 

off if you get too warm.

F Use sheets and clothing that let 

your skin “breathe.”

F Have a cold drink (water or juice) 

when a flash is starting.

You could also talk to your doctor 

about whether there are any medicines 

to manage hot flashes. A few drugs that 

are approved for other uses, for example, 

certain anti-depressants, seem to be 

helpful to some women. 

What About Those Lost 

Hormones?

These days you hear a lot about whether 

you should use hormones to help relieve 

F Do weight-bearing exercise, such as 

walking, jogging, or dancing, at least 

3 days each week for healthy bones. 

But try to be physically active in 

other ways for your general health.

Other things to remember:

F Take medicine if your doctor 

prescribes it for you, especially 

if it is for health problems you 

cannot see or feel—for example, 

high blood pressure, high 

cholesterol, or osteoporosis.

F Use a water-based vaginal lubricant 

(not petroleum jelly) or a vaginal 

estrogen cream or tablet to help 

with vaginal discomfort.

F Get regular pelvic and breast exams, 

Pap tests, and mammograms. You 

should also be checked for colon and 

rectal cancer and for skin cancer. 

Contact your doctor right away if 

you notice a lump in your breast 

or a mole that has changed.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) 

has publications on many of these topics. 

See For More Information to learn how to 

order your free copies.

Menopause is not a disease that has 

to be treated. But you might need help 

if symptoms like hot flashes bother you. 
8 

F Do weight-bearing exercise, such as 

walking, jogging, or dancing, at least 

3 days each week for healthy bones. 

But try to be physically active in 

other ways for your general health.

Other things to remember:

F Take medicine if your doctor 

prescribes it for you, especially 

if it is for health problems you 

cannot see or feel—for example, 

high blood pressure, high 

cholesterol, or osteoporosis.

F Use a water-based vaginal lubricant 

(not petroleum jelly) or a vaginal 

estrogen cream or tablet to help 

with vaginal discomfort.

F Get regular pelvic and breast exams, 

Pap tests, and mammograms. You 

should also be checked for colon and 

rectal cancer and for skin cancer. 

Contact your doctor right away if 

you notice a lump in your breast 

or a mole that has changed.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) 

has publications on many of these topics. 

See For More Information to learn how to 

order your free copies.

Menopause is not a disease that has 

to be treated. But you might need help 

if symptoms like hot flashes bother you.