Eliza: I went through surgical menapause in 1985. Talk about full blown night sweats and emotional roller coasters! That was pretty rough for a 32 year old. There were the other emotions of not being able to have any more children. I had two healthy children so I felt blessed in that aspect. I was thrilled not to have a period any more but not so thrilled when the facial hair on my chin started to sprout! What women have to go through!! I is not any easier nor less traumatic when you go through surgical menapause. Mine lasted a year...the sweating and hormonal adjustment. Gee, I survived. Coping with this at an early age has let me help those now in my age group cope or adjust to their changes.
We all go through the change differently and at a different pace. It took my mother over five years to go through hers and it was the worse time of my teenage life.