Do the symptoms of menopause last for years or months for most women?

For the majority of women, the unpleasant symptoms of menopause last at least seven years, according to CBS News. The hot flashes and nighttime sweats that mark this phase in a woman's life can last as long as 12 to 14 years if they start before periods end.

The medical definition of menopause is the cessation of a woman's periods for 12 months in a row, and this most frequently happens between the ages of 45 and 55. As levels of estrogen drop, menopause symptoms occur. Some women choose hormone replacement therapy to fight the symptoms. Some anecdotally effective treatments include antidepressants at low dosage and herbal remedies such as black cohosh, notes CBS News.