What you need to know about menopausal hormone therapy

What you need to know about menopausal hormone therapy [Getty Images]

Menopause used to be a taboo topic in many quarters. Now, it's frequently in the news.

Technically, menopause is a point in time. It typically starts 12 months after the last menstrual cycle and marks the end of fertility and it usually occurs between ages 45 and 55. It's preceded by perimenopause, a transitional phase during which menstruation changes but continues, that can last as long as a decade.