An independent panel of leading cancer clinicians was brought together to evaluate and summarize the cancer risks for women taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Health risks associated with HRT came to public attention in 2002. A widely publicized report linked the common menopause treatments (estrogen and progestin pills) with an increased risk for heart disease, stroke and breast cancer in some women.

Since then, there has been much debate about the value and potential hazards of taking hormones for alleviating menopausal symptoms.

My body is changing. Without my permission. And I don't know what to expect or how to wrap my head around these sudden fluctuations, freaky symptoms, and loss of control.

The symptoms:

1. Erratic periods. I used to be clockwork. Then had a baby two years ago. Started my period again around 6 months. Then I was clockwork again. In the last 6-8 months, however, I can no longer predict my flow to the day. My cycle can run as long as 50 days before my period starts.

Have you ever heard the expression “men sweat, but women glow?”

Obviously, whoever coined that phrase wasn’t a woman dealing with menopause and night sweats.

Looking back, my night sweats were clearly part of my going through perimenopause in my early 40s. But at the time, neither my physician nor I were making that connection. He believed that it was a side effect of the medications I was taking for irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS.

I recently read in a health magazine that night sweats can be prevented, or at least be not-quite-so-sweaty, if you wear socks to bed. Apparently it has something to do with your warm and cozy feet sending a signal to your central nervous system, but I'm not really sure about the details. (I was walking on a treadmill while reading the magazine and my attention span wasn't all there.)

By Shannon Koehle
EmpowHer.com reporter

Memory loss is a common sign of aging that is now associated with menopause.

Often linked to symptoms that include hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, and increased stress, research and patient complaints now indicate memory loss could be an additional symptom of this natural process.

As president and founder of The American Menopause Foundation Maria Lugano says, there’s not much information to confirm or deny the connection between memory loss and menopause, but it is a symptom.

Over 10 years ago I began experiencing frequent hot flashes during work and even more frequent night sweats. I would sleep about 30 minutes before the next one would begin and it felt like my bedding was on fire. I was pretty much opposed to prescription drug based hrt from all of my reading and prefer to stay with natural healing remedies unless I have absolutely no other choice. My doctors weren't schooled in anything except prescription drugs and more than once I walked out of their offices feeling like they weren't listening to me.