Menopause is now recognized as a normal part of aging that affects every woman in an individual way. Some women notice little difference in their bodies or moods; others find menopause very uncomfortable and disruptive.

Today's women understand that menopause is not a disease. It is a normal event; a passage from one stage of life to another.

The average age of natural menopause in the United States is 51, but it can occur anytime between ages 40 and 55.

Menopause occurs when you stop having periods for good. For many women, this happens around age 50. The time of change before this is called perimenopause. It may start in your late 30s or 40s, and can last for months or years.

Pelvic organ prolapse is when one or more of the organs inside the pelvis (found between the waist and thighs), slip from their normal positions. Normally, muscles and tissues in the pelvic region support the pelvic organs and hold them in place.

A generation ago, hot flashes, irregular periods, and mood swings would have been labeled menopause or “the change of life.” Today, your doctor is more likely to call this perimenopause, a new term for the transitional years leading up to the end of menstruation.