I started menopause early... all periods stopped by my 45th birthday. The next year I began to get hot flashes, or what I thought were hot flashes but may actually have been a fibromyalgia symptom. The hot flashes are still happening nine years later and they've always been extreme; the only thing that helps is to eat an ice cream bar.

Saturn was approaching my Ascendant when all of this started happening and Pluto was opposing my moon. It was a very stressful time anyhow but menopause did not make it any better, LOL.

I am puzzled about menopause. Is it just the years from periods to period stopping? Or is it the entire post-stage as well? Because I have friends who still have hot flushes in their 60's. Whereas by 46 I was done. No hot flushes. My thermostat's a bit screwed, it doesn't really work well. 

But I think menopause is a spiritual awakening for women. This time is so precious. 

I miss the intense and physical/spiritual introspection of menstruation. But this is a different kind of knowing. 

I don't know the astrology. 

Oh joy!  Going through it.  I think it's a Saturn thing, menopause.  Well at least for me, just about to transit the 4th. 

Hot flushes, itchy skin.

Out of the blue moments of tiredness (I just cut out, as if someone's just unplugged me from the electrical socket, zzzsshhoommm.

A little bit tearful now and again (laughs at the understatement here).

Have taken up having rants at strangers (really, in the aisles of supermarkets and the tills at garden centres - I always wondered about the backstory of people who did this, now I'm one of them).

There are days when I look pregnant; well at least like I'm about to hatch something...the worlds biggest melon by the looks of things.

I guess I have a bit to go yet, only started in early 2012.  I'm keeping everything working, including as @soup describes 'the girly stuff' and my brain

And the good thing is I feel more like a woman than ever before; that's woman, W-O-M-A-N. I'll say it again.

I've noticed also, a tendency to go out in my pyjamas too, tucking them into my wellingtons, and putting a coat over the top.  No-one would know (I kid myself).  It starts with just going into the garden to do a bit of weeding, and before I know it, I am in the shops like this.  Hahahahahahahaha!  I'm only 48 you know.  Lucky I live deep in the countryside and a lot of people do this I think

And lets face it, wellingtons are great, they really are.

I went through Menopause at 51, but Peri-Menopause started at 45. I think Peri-Menopause is the worst. I had the worst of my symptoms then. I would say sweaty and bloated described me at that time of my life. Very attractive, huh? The birth of the afternoon nap began during that time.

I've always looked at actual Menopause as a kind of crescendo for your body and then there is a gradual calming down of symptoms in the years that follow.

I didn't take any hormone therapy and didn't want it. Menopause is a natural phase for a woman's life, not a disease. I had night sweats and hot flashes for years, but just adjusted my wardrobe and way of living to accomodate that. For seven years I couldn't wear sweaters, turtlenecks, or anything fleece. I dressed in layers and would take on or off as needed. Cotten anything is your friend because it's an airy fabric.

My sister, a Virgo, couldn't deal with Menopause at all and was on Prempro for 10 years. She ended up having a lot of health problems, maybe because of it. She didn't want to deal with the inconvenience of Menopause because there was a way not to. She could take drugs to avoid any symptoms.

I think Menopause is a rite of passage to Croneville. Aside from the bodily changes, there are profound changes to your mind. You have a different focus when you come out the other side.

Really helpful..