Health Tip: Symptoms of Menopause

Wednesday, October 15, 2008; 10:00 AM

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(HealthDay News) -- Menopause is the normal time in a woman's life when the monthly menstrual cycle stops, usually between ages 45 and 55.

Here are common symptoms of menopause, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

• No menstrual period for the last 12 months, without surgical or other biological cause.
• Differences in the pattern of your period -- shorter or longer, lighter or heavier, more or less frequent.
• Hot flashes or night sweats.
• Vaginal dryness.
• Moodiness, irritability or crying frequently.
• Difficulty concentrating or focusing, or confusion.
• Thinning hair, or the appearance of more facial hair.