Reply #8: I went through it when I was 40.

[Raven]

I am 57 now. It took about 5 years from start to finish and while there were some difficult times, overall it was not as bad as we are often led to believe. I had the hot flashes and the night sweats but they were not usually severe and when they were, I just rode them out. I did not take any drugs, thank God. They were pushing the hormone replacement stuff then by my Doc said that if I could stand the symtoms, not to take anything. I think there may be some helpful natural remedies now.

The most prominent thing that I noticed (and the best thing about the whole process) was that I completely lost the PMS and the mood swings and the bloating and discomfort. That alone was worth going through it!

I think that while there is alot of hype about this making many women dread it, if you accept the fact that it is a natural process that will eventually end and, to a certain extent, nature's reward for all those years of bleeding and PMS and worring about getting pregnant, you can get through it. Having said that, I must say that I might have felt differently about it if I had been childless or had wanted more children. I also think that the process can be difficult if there are other difficult things going on in your life or if you don't have an understanding mate.

One final thing: this is a natural process and while some doors are shut as a result of it, others are opened. I think you enter a new, freer, stage in life. For many women, it coincides with being older, wiser, more confident. But I think if you are afraid of the aging process, it will be very difficult