Throughout perimenopause and menopause, the levels of estrogen and progesterone in your body vary as your ovaries try to keep up with your usual levels of hormone production. This change is what causes the typical symptoms of menopause, like hot flashes, mood swings, sleep problems, bone loss, problems concentrating, breast tenderness, vaginal dryness, loss of libido, and urinary incontinence.

While the average age American women officially start menopause is 52, there isn’t a definitive timeline when menopause symptoms begin and stop. Your experience will be primarily based on genetics. Asking your doctor about how to cope with your symptoms now can bring you months of comfort as you transition to the next phase of your life.