What most women refer to as menopause is actually a process involving three stages: perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause.

Each phase is controlled by a tiny gland in the brain called the pituitary gland, along with the ovaries. The pituitary gland tells the body how much of certain hormones to make throughout our lives. Levels of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone fluctuate throughout a woman's life, influencing the reproductive system in many ways.

The most important thing you can do when you are facing any life change is to arm yourself with the facts. Please download our free treatment guide as a resource while exploring your options for coping with menopause and its related effects. The following are just some of the questions that the guide will help answer:

• What are the symptoms of menopause and what treatments
  are available?
• What causes hot flashes?
• What is menopausal hormone therapy?
• What's the relationship between osteoporosis and menopause?

Don't let menopause keep you from enjoying a normal life. Get answers today by downloading our free guide.

Cleveland Clinic's Gynecology Department is ranked No. 1 in OH and No. 4 nationally by U.S.News & World Report (2009-2010.)