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\"One thing women should focus on is the importance of the pelvic floor when it comes to the reproductive system,\" MaryEllen Reider, co-founder of Yarlap, said. \"It’s a muscle that hasn’t gotten a lot of recognition and women shouldn’t be ashamed to talk about any issues.\"

Embracing menopause

Menopause is defined as one year without a menstrual period.

According to the Mayo Clinic, menopause can happen in women in their 40s or 50s, but the average age is 51 in the U.S. Ashton explained that factors such as family history, smoking and medical conditions can affect the age when a woman begins through menopause.

Common symptoms leading up to menopause include mood swings, memory loss, hot flashes, an increase in body fat, a decrease in bone density and irregular vaginal bleeding, but not all women will experience all of the symptoms.

\"PHOTO:
STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images
PHOTO: Menopause stock photo
>

\"In some women, as they approach menopause, their period will just fade off into the sunset and bleeding will completely stop,\" Reider said. \"In other women, bleeding can become more irregular. In some cases, heavier and closer together. There is really no way to predict, it's very individual.\"

Although menopause is something many women dread, Ashton said women have something to look forward to.

\"For many women it might feel like the worst thing ever, but there are treatments and ways to manage it,\" she said. \"Women are now living a third of their life after menopause and those can be really vital and vibrant years.\"

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