Reassuring the woman facing menopause: strategies and resources

Reassurance and reliable information are the prime requirements of women in premenopause, perimenopause and postmenopause. Women in premenopause want to know what to expect; women in perimenopause want to know that their experiences fall within the range of 'normal'; women in peri- and postmenopause need help in making sensible decisions about the use of hormone therapy. Based on the concerns expressed in over 7000 letters and other messages sent to the international newsletter, A Friend Indeed, this article discusses the concerns of North American women facing menopause in the last decade of the 20th century.