Description - from the National Women's Health Information Center

Menopause, a normal and natural event, is the end of menstruation. It is usually confirmed when you have not had a period for 12 months in a row (with other causes for this change ruled out). Menopause starts when your body's level of the hormone estrogen falls permanently to very low levels and your menstrual periods stop for good. Menopause is also known as "the change of life."

This change in your body usually doesn't happen all at once. There is a transition period before menopause called perimenopause, when your body starts making less of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. During this time, you can have symptoms such as hot flashes and mood swings, and you may or may not have a period. These changes usually begin between the ages of 45 and 55, with the average at about age 51. A few women reach natural menopause as early as their 30s (which is called premature menopause) and as late as their 60s. Women who smoke or who used to smoke can reach menopause one to two years earlier than nonsmokers.

Wegner Center Resources

The Hormone Decision - 7 Questions to Ask Yourself and Your Doctor About Hormone Replacement Therapy and Other Options - Book
Wegner Books WP 580 L366 2003

The Wisdom of Menopause: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing During the Change - Book
Wegner Books WP 580 N877 2001

Menopause 2000: Cool Perspectives on a Hot Issue - Video
Wegner Electronic W 1 NE235t no.754, 1999

Web Resources

American Academy of Family Physicians
http://familydoctor.org/healthfacts/125/
This site provides a comprehensive look at menopause - from what menopause is to hormone replacement therapy and other treatments.

National Women's Health Information Center
http://www.4women.gov/Menopause
This site provides information on hormone therapy, perimenopause, menopause, and menopause resources.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration - Menopause and Hormones
http://www.fda.gov/womens/menopause
This site provide information on menopausal hormone therapies - estrogens and estrogens with progestins.  The information is provided in both English and Spanish.

Current Literature

Menopause from MEDLINEplus
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/menopause.html
MEDLINEplus provides extensive information from the a variety of trusted sources, in English and in Spanish.

Medem Medical Library - Women's Health
http://www.medem.com/medlb/medlib_entry.cfm
Medem's award-winning Medical Library represents the full rant of patient education information from medical societies and other trusted sources, and is unsurpassed in quality, breadth and depth of health care information.