Women are taking greater control of their lives, and want to know as much as possible about this life change.
Most women experience several years of waxing and waning ovarian function prior to menopause.
A woman is not said to be menopausal until she has gone 12 months without a menstrual period. The average age of menopause is about 51. Irregular, often heavier periods may be a key indicator of perimenopause. Sexually active women should continue to use an effective birth control method until they have gone a full year with no periods. A woman experiencing menstrual changes should begin talking with her doctor about hormone replacement therapy, Klein says.