Menopause is the ceasing of the monthly female menstrual cycle. A woman is considered menopausal when she has been without a menstrual cycle for at least for one year. Common symptoms of menopause are emotional and physical changes, mood swings, sleeplessness, hot flashes and night sweats. Some women experience perimenopause prior to menopause. This period of time can include many of the symptoms of menopause before menstruation stops. The most common symptoms that perimenopausal and menopausal women complain of are hot flashes, flushes and sweats; thirty three percent of these women seek medical attention for the ailments.

Menopause is the ceasing of the monthly female menstrual cycle. A woman is considered menopausal when she has been without a menstrual cycle for at least for one year. Common symptoms of menopause are emotional and physical changes, mood swings, sleeplessness, hot flashes and night sweats. Some women experience perimenopause prior to menopause. This period of time can include many of the symptoms of menopause before menstruation stops. The most common symptoms that perimenopausal and menopausal women complain of are hot flashes, flushes and sweats; thirty three percent of these women seek medical attention for the ailments.

Estrogens are a group of steroid compounds that are named for their importance in the estrus cycle. They function as the primary female sex hormone. Estrogen is present in men and women, but is usually at significantly higher levels in women of reproductive age. Estrogen is mainly produced in the developing follicles in the ovaries, but some is also produced by secondary sources such as the liver, adrenal glands and breasts. The secondary sources are particularly important for post-menopausal women. Estrogens function structurally to promote the formation of female secondary sex characteristics, stimulate endometrial growth, increase uterine growth, increasing vessel and skin maintenance and bone formation.

PMS, or premenstrual syndrome, has been associated with a deficiency or excess of hormones, stress, nutritional deficiencies and other nutritional or lifestyle factors. Symptoms that are commonly associated with PMS include increased levels of stress and body weight.

The percentage of women who experience PMS varies widely. According to a study of 66 healthy female clerical workers in Hong Kong showed that 92% reported some symptoms during the premenstrual phase. They were more likely to experience premenstrual fatigue and pain and less likely to experience premenstrual negative affect.