Menopause is best known for its temporary changes — a disturbed sleep cycle, mood swings, or lower energy levels. While many women do experience these, the caricature of the emotionally volatile and sweaty menopausal woman obscures the fact that the drop in estrogen — a hormone not only responsible for reproduction but also involved in promoting growth and repair of neurons, absorbing nutrients, and regulating metabolism — can contribute to more serious and chronic problems such as osteoporosis, mental health disorders, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cognitive decline, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Most women are aware of the physical manifestations of menopause — vaginal dryness, disturbed sleep, mood swings, difficulty focusing, weight gain, slowed metabolism, irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, hair loss and loss of fullness of the breasts. But few are aware that the underlying hormonal changes kick off increased potential for larger health problems.