You might be chatting sociably with friends, and suddenly you notice that they're all flapping their hands at at their faces. You're all sitting there like a bunch of chickens - all flapping away. You hardly notice that you're doing it because it's such a habit. All clutching at your clothes to try and flap some cool air in, And all of you are bright red in the face." Sally, 58

Sometimes the menopause is a nuisance, but on the whole I quite like it. I feel like I'm being 'rounded off.' I just like the feeling of completing a whole area of my life. And then - well, who knows what I might do next? - Benni, 50

The very best way that you can help yourself is to develop and sustain a positive attitude. The way you think and feel about everything will make all the difference to your experience.

Decide to smile and keep upbeat. A scowling, bad-tempered face is far less attractive than a smiling, accepting one.

When my daughter was 10 she pointed at my face and said accusingly, 'Er - yuk! Witches have those.' I rushed to the mirror. There, sprouting determinedly from a mole on my chin, was a single sprout of hair. I was 45. Caroline, 53