This usually occurs between ages 45 and 55, with variations in timing from woman to woman. Because of advances in medical care and fewer deaths during childbirth, the average life expectancy for women in the United States has increased from approximately 62 to about 80 years since the beginning of this century. About 35 to 40 million women are currently going through or are past menopause. While menopause is defined by many people as simply the end of a woman's menstrual cycles and her ability to bear children, it is also the beginning of a new and distinct phase of her life, with its own special health issues. Symptoms of Menopause Each woman experiences menopause differently.
Some women have minimal discomfort, while others have moderate or even severe problems.
The most common symptom is hot flashes, experienced by more than 60 percent of menopausal women. Hot flashes often begin several years before other symptoms of menopause occur. Other changes involve the vagina and urinary tract. Declining estrogen levels can make vaginal tissues drier, thinner, and less elastic, which can make sexual intercourse painful. Urinary tract infections can occur more frequently.