I am a female, currently age 48. My menopausal symptoms started when I was 42 years old although back then they were very minor. They started out with subtle hot flashes during the day and night sweats at night.

Gradually, they progressed to very severe hot flashes, to the point where I needed to either go outside into the cold weather (if it was winter time) or sit right next to a fan (if it was summertime).

Sometimes I would be in the middle of a meeting at work, feel the hot flash coming on, and I would want nothing more than to run out of the room and take all my clothes off. The sensation was as if someone was lighting a fire inside my chest.

It was so embarrassing when I would begin to perspire when everyone else around me was comfortable. At night, I would wake up and my clothes and hair would be as wet as if I just got out of the shower.

I read a couple of books and looked for solutions on-line. By reading the books and searching on-line, that is what convinced me to endure my menopause naturally, without medication. I never took any doctor prescribed medicine, although I did take a natural herb called Cimi-Fem.

The natural herbs seemed to help immensely. But the only problem with the natural herbs was that they took about a month before they were effective, and if I stopped taking them for more than 3 or 4 days, it was like I had to start all over again because the symptoms were back just as strong as ever.

Another symptom I had was minor depression. There was a period of time where every little thing that happened in my life seemed to upset me. Now the symptoms have subsided. I only get hot flashes and night sweats once in awhile. I am very happy that period of my life is completed.