During the years just before menopause, your ovaries become less functional, and there is a gradual reduction in your production of estrogen and progesterone. Eventually, you don't produce enough hormones to regulate your period and it stops altogether for at least 12 months.

Natural menopause is a gradual process, during which a woman's hormones decrease slowly over time and menopause-related symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats, may happen gradually.

When menopause is surgically induced by a hysterectomy and the removal of both ovaries, menopause-related symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats, are often more severe because the production of estrogen in the ovaries ends abruptly. Typically, with surgical menopause, severe hot flashes begin immediately after surgery.

There does appear to be a higher incidence of hot flashes with surgical menopause than with natural menopause. Of course, menopause is different for every woman, and while you may share many of the same symptoms and severity, your experience will nonetheless be unique to you.

Taking estrogen can help relieve your symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. Both natural and surgical menopause can increase your risk of osteoporosis. The good news is that estrogen can help prevent bone loss that can lead to osteoporosis.

As you probably know, there are always risks and benefits to consider when you are thinking of taking any medication. That's why it is important to talk with your healthcare professional. Together, you can decide if hormone therapy is right for you.

Because of some of the risks of hormone therapy, you and your doctor should talk regularly to determine your best treatment option:

Estrogen increases the risk for cancer of the uterus. If you experience persistent or recurring vaginal bleeding while taking estrogen, let your doctor know right away, as this could be a warning sign for cancer of the uterus. Your doctor should check for the cause of any unusual vaginal bleeding after menopause.

If you have not had a hysterectomy (which means you still have your uterus), your doctor may also prescribe a second hormone, called progestin. The progestin prevents an overgrowth of cells in the lining of the uterus. This type of overgrowth can increase your risk of endometrial (uterine) cancer. A combination estrogen-progestin therapy can help reduce the risk for endometrial cancer in a woman with a uterus.

Estrogens with progestin may increase your risk of dementia.

Hormone therapy isn't right for every woman. Estrogens (alone or in combination with progestins) may increase the risk for cancer of the uterus, heart attack, stroke, breast cancer, blood clots, and dementia. Estrogens (alone or in combination with progestins) should not be used to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, strokes or dementia. For a woman with a uterus, estrogen increases her chance of getting endometrial cancer (cancer of the uterine lining). Adding progestin lowers this risk.

Because of these risks, estrogens (alone or in combination with progestins) should be used at the lowest dose for the shortest period of time. And because every woman is unique, it's important to have a discussion with your healthcare professional about the benefits, risks, and side effects of any therapy you choose.

Some of the common physical changes you may face may include hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, vaginal dryness, discomfort with urinating, dry skin and hair, and brittle nails. There is also the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.

Some of the common emotional challenges you may face may include anxiety, irritability, depression, lethargy, and lower self-esteem (you may consider yourself to suddenly be "over the hill").