Leading up to this, when the ovaries begin to slow down, is the climacteric. This usually occurs between 45 and 55 years of age.
Some people experience no problems through menopause while others experience discomfort.
The most common symptons include hot flushes, night sweats and loss of lubricating secretions in the vagina, as oestrogen and progesterone levels decline. Other symptons include insomnia, depression, fatigue, muscle pain and breathlessness. Some women may experience a gradual depletion of calcium from their bones around menopause. Calcium supplementation together with zinc, mangesium and vitamin D is advisable. Vitamin E along with vitamin C and calcium may help in reducing hot flushes.