Mine was very gradual. My doctor tested my hormone level and found I was low on estrogen. She put me on hormone replacement medication and I fell much better. A few years later was taken off of them because I developed breast cancer, even though, the doctor said it didn't cause my cancer. They just did it as a precaution. That was 12 years ago. When they took me off the hormones I went immdiately into full menopause. I was 50 years old and it was tough going through that and chemo at the same time but I lived and am cancer free at this time.