Are you prepared for menopause? The truth is, most women aren't prepared for menopause symptoms simply because they don't know what they are.That's a pretty frightening scenario given menopause symptoms will become a part of their lives and in some cases, for several years. Preparation for menopause is as simple as knowing what some of the symptoms are and how to deal with them.In this article, we'll highlight some of the major symptoms of menopause to help you better understand this natural phase in a woman's life.Menopause SymptomsThere are several main symptoms of menopause although most women will only experience a few of them. There are many minor symptoms within the main ones which gives the impression women have to fight what appears to be an army of symptoms.   Hot flashes are easily the most common. They will affect different women in different ways and constitute a variety of symptoms. Here's just a few:-nausea-headache-increased heartbeat-hot flush-insomniaAs you can see, hot flushes encompass a wide range of symptoms and most women will be affected one one or several of these at some stage. Some will have more severe bouts than others and your doctor will be your greatest ally at these moments.Other Menopause SymptomsSome symptoms are spin-offs of others. For example, mood swings and irritability are often associated with lack of sleep which can be related to hot flashes.During the peri-menopausal stage, one of the more dangerous results of menopause is possible bone loss. It's a worrying time for women but shouldn't be if the right preparation has taken place. Bone loss increases to 2-3% per year during perimenopause with osteoparosis a possible result.There are ways to combat bone loss and your doctor again is your go to person. This is why ignoring menopause during your younger years and refusing to understand it, it's symptoms and consequences it's a little irresponsible. Other menopause symptoms include vaginal and breast changes and issues with the urinary tract. While gathering information on menopause when it's arrived is great, this should have really been done several years ago.