As women get older, sooner or later they begin to succumb to the seven dwarfs of menopause.
If you have never heard of these pesky little creatures, then you soon will.
They will creep up on you, one at a time, when you least expect it.
Long before the days of your period are over, you will start to notice changes in your body.
Because you may be in your late thirties or early forties, you won't even associate them with menopause.
For example, the first of the seven dwarfs of menopause - Itchy - will seemingly come out of nowhere.
You might think it is an allergic reaction to something, or that your skin is just getting a little dryer.
The second of the seven dwarfs of menopause - Bitchy - may not even appear to you, but it will certainly appear to those around you.
Your overall outlook on life might change, and your days of optimism will be over.
The next dwarfs - Sweaty, Sleepy, and Bloated - will hit you all at once.
You will be just like the women you have seen all your life, claiming "it's too hot in here", and fanning away at your sweaty face.
You will feel tired all the time because you will be suffering from night sweats, and the bloating won't make it any easier.
The final two dwarfs - Forgetful and All Dried Up - are the last to knock on your door.
They too will be subtle, and you might not even notice them at first.
But again, those around you will.
So, when your new friends - Itchy, Bitchy, Sweaty, Sleepy, Bloated Forgetful, and All Dried Up - come to visit you, you shouldn't be surprised.
They are the surefire signs that menopause is on its way.
You may think of this as a depressing time of your life, but there are many ways to chase away these intruders and get back to your happy, healthy life again.