For most women, menopause starts between 45 – 55 years old. When a woman's body enters this stage the ovaries decline and stop functioning, thus no ovulation occurs. A woman’s period will ultimately stop, with no female hormones produced, leading to physical and mental changes.

The missing hormones causing this change are estrogen and progesterone. 

• Food: Menopausal women should eat a balanced diet, and eat high calcium foods such as yoghurt, beans, tofu, black sesame, fish, green leaf vegetables, etc. Calcium helps strengthen bones in order to prevent osteoporosis. Try to control cholesterol by avoiding food with high fat content and eat foods that are easy to digest.
• Regular exercise: This includes walking, jogging, dancing, aerobics, etc.
• Mood control: Positive thinking, try to be lively.
• Regular check up (at least once a year): Blood pressure, cholesterol, pap smear, mammography, bone mineral density, and hormone levels.

Consult Your Doctor About Hormone Replacement

In case a menopausal woman has many of the above symptoms or conditions (especially osteoporosis) and needs hormone replacement, a doctor will make the decision about what hormones are necessary for the patient.