Menopause is a natural occurrence that signals the end of a woman’s childbearing years. Women reach menopause around the age of 50. Menopause can be diagnosed after menstruation has ceased for at least one year. There is also a condition called perimenopause which may affect women between the ages of 30 and 50. Perimenopause is simply premature menopause during which you continue to menstruate but experience symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. Menopause and pain often go hand in hand together, but luckily there are ways of alleviating the discomfort caused by this change of life.