Menopause does not always announce itself with a hot flash.

Menopause makes you gain weight automatically. Many women hear that version of the story. It is too simple to help.

At 2 a.m., a woman may wake drenched from a night sweat, stare at the ceiling for an hour, and blame it all on menopause. Sometimes that is right.

The skin that suddenly feels tight after washing is often the first clue.

Mood can change during the menopause transition. That is common. Severe or persistent symptoms still need proper care.

Before menopause, the same meal and routine might produce the same result. During the transition, that predictability can disappear.

A stiff knee after a car ride. Fingers that resist movement in the morning. A hip that aches at night.

At 2:15 in the morning, a woman wakes with her shirt damp and her heart pounding.

Menopause can change your hair. It may become finer, drier, slower-growing, or thinner along the part.