(HealthDay News) -- Menopause, a natural process that may take between five and 15 years, occurs when a woman's monthly ovulation cycle ends, resulting in the cessation of the monthly menstrual cycle. Most women experience menopause somewhere around age 50.
Due to the dramatic changes in hormones in a woman's body during menopause, there are a variety of symptoms she may experience. To help identify the onset of menopause, the Association of Women for the Advancement of Research and Education (AWARE) lists these common symptoms:
- Hot flashes, cold flashes, night sweats and clammy skin.
- Moodiness, depression, anxiety, irritability and unexplained crying.
- Sleep disturbances or insomnia.
- Irregular menstrual cycles, including unusually light or heavy bleeding or unusually short or long cycles.
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering or paying attention
- Headaches, dizziness, fatigue, muscle aches, gastrointestinal problems, or tender breasts.
- Lost or thinning hair on the scalp or an increase or thickening of facial hair.
