Q After 30 years of daily hormone replacement, I have been taken off the medicine. I can't stand the insomnia and flashing. How long will this last and is there something I can eat or drink to get my life back? — F.R. Greenville

A I hope you have reported your discomforts to your doctor and you have found relief. Melody Covington, a fourth-year medical student, had an interest in researching your question. Here is what she found.

Menopause is a normal physiological process that women experience and, in the United States, the average age of onset is 51 years. Menopause can occur at an earlier age for women who undergo hysterectomy or removal of the uterus and ovaries. It is possible that the symptoms you describe can last a lifetime, but they usually decrease in intensity as a woman ages.

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