The process begins several years before as a woman's ovaries begin to produce less estrogen. Perimenopause, a period of irregular menstruation before menopause, begins around age 47.5 and lasts about 4 years. Menopause begins around age 51. The average life expectancy of women in North America is 76 years. After menopause, estrogen production is greatly reduced, leading to a number of physical and psychological effects on women.
Hot flashes are the most common signs of perimenopause.
Occurrences of hot flashes can be reduced by stopping smoking, minimizing pre-menstrual syndrome, and reducing factors that cause stress before the perimenopause stage.