How can you tell menopause/peri-menopause is starting? Generally, changes in your period, hot flashes, moody, etc. Sometimes you can get bloodwork- but someone I work with said she is getting hot flashes and her bloodwork results showed she was not in menopause, even though she knows she is. Anyway, it's different for everyone. I agree that your experience will probably be similar to your mother's.

What can you do about it? According to my doctor, he can prescribe hormone therapy, but I do not want to do that. Over the years (I won't tell you how many- don't want you to get discouraged!) I have tried to mentally adjust to the daily, many times a day & night hot flashes that make me want to jump out of my skin, and that has helped- I try to go with the flow, know it will be over in a minute and then go on with my day. I just did not want to be one of those women that makes everyone as miserable as they are during the hot flashes. I do take over the counter Estroven, which has soy isoflavones and black cohash root, and this helps me too. Information helps- there's plenty of books/articles about it. Like I said, it is different for everyone, so you have to find what works best for you.

Good luck! And warm thoughts! (tee hee!)