• Your menstrual periods will stop
• You may experience less lubrication, which can give you a feeling of vaginal dryness
• Walls of vagina can become thinner and less elastic

• Prior to menopause, the primary source of estrogen is the ovaries
• After menopause, the ovaries no longer produce estrogen
• Small amounts of estrogen continue to be produced in the adrenal glands, fatty tissue, and the brain

• Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become thin and porous, making them weaker and more susceptible to fractures
• Osteoporosis can progress silently until either a spontaneous fracture occurs or a sudden bump or fall causes a fracture
• The most common broken bones, resulting from osteoporosis, occur in the hip, spine, and wrist
• One out of two white women will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in her lifetime
• Risk factors include being female, being postmenopausal, being white or Asian, a family history of osteoporosis, smoking, and excessive use of caffeine or alcohol

• Estrogen helps bones absorb calcium from the blood and slows the loss of calcium from bone
• During menopause, a woman's ovaries stop producing estrogen, which weakens bones and causes loss of bone mass
• Up to 20% of a woman's lifetime bone loss may occur in the years immediately following menopause
• Significant bone loss caused by menopause can lead to osteoporosis

• Eat foods containing calcium, like milk and cheese, calcium-fortified cereals and juices, and broccoli
• Get plenty of vitamin D from sources like salmon, canned tuna, fortified milk and raisin bran cereals
• Exercise moderately—weight-bearing activities, like walking, may help prevent bone loss
• Minimize risk factors (for example, reduce alcohol intake or stop smoking)
• Schedule a bone density test with your doctor to determine your risk for osteoporosis
• Tell your doctor about medicines you take

Either directly or as a result of interrupted sleep, symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats may make you feel:

• Tired
• Moody
• Irritable