In the 1999 health update questionnaire we asked women who were postmenopausal what they would like to tell women who had not yet reached menopause. Advice varied, but the message was clear-you will live through it. Below are some words of advice from your postmenopausal colleagues.

• Think of menopause as a natural, normal and positive experience: Menopause is a natural time in your life that won't last forever and may not be as bad as you think. Menopause is not as scary as people make it sound.

• Expect menopausal symptoms to vary in type and intensity: No two people's experiences will be the same. Some will notice a lot of symptoms and others won't be bothered as much by symptoms.

• Take care of your mental health: Your emotional and mental health are important. How you feel about what is happening has a lot to do with how you feel physically. Find ways to reduce stress and keep balance in your life. Laughing is good for you.

• Being postmenopausal means never worrying about PMS, periods and pregnancy ever again!

• Take care of your physical health: Protect the quality of your life. Eat a healthy diet and get plenty of calcium. Keep active and exercise.

• Educate yourself about menopause and how to make healthy choices. Learn about all the options for dealing with menopause symptoms. Learn about estrogen and hormone replacement therapy and your family's medical history. Learn about herbal alternatives to hormone replacement therapy: Learn about other ways to reduce menopause symptoms.

• Find and keep a health care provider whom you can trust to help you make informed decisions.