question about symptoms of menopause

[SheilaT]

48. As with everything else, we are all different.

And our tolerance for various things, like hot flashes, will vary. Your point that what we think may be menopause symptoms may well be something else is spot on. I, myself, only had annoying symptoms for a few years. I think the most important thing is to pay attention to your own body, and if you for any reason whatsoever think what's happening isn't normal, seek out professional help.

And long term HRT is not a good idea at all. About a decade ago doctors finally realized that HRT does more harm than good other than in the short run.

One thing I do want to emphasize is that menopause is programmed in. If we live long enough, we reach menopause. It is NOT the point at which women are programmed to die, which I've occasionally heard. No. In our evolution, we were designed to start giving birth somewhere after reaching sexual maturity, and then have a baby ever four years or so, until menopause. Menopause gives us the time to raise that last child, and to be a grandmother to our daughters' first babies. In today's world childbearing generally works a little differently, but our biology is not fundamentally different.

It's not fun, but you'll get through it, especially if you seek professional advice and help as appropriate.