It's girl's night out for a group of 40 and 50-something South Florida women who are all going through the midlife adventure known as menopause. Six years after they began their weekly tradition, it's still going strong.

"A few years ago we went to see 'Menopause The Musical'. We laughed so hard we decided we needed to have that same experience on a regular basis," says Loretta Garcia. At 58 years old, she's the senior member of the group.

Guide To Menopause | Always Getting Better

The musical talks about the condition through parodies of Baby Boomer hits such as "'I Heard It Thru the Grapevine; You No Longer See 39" and the disco favorite "Stayin' Awake! Stayin' Awake!" The producers say, "The show has evolved from a grassroots movement of women who deal with life after 40 and all the challenges that result to a women's movement that targets the interests, needs, and sensibilities of women over 40."

Society's view of menopause, however, is nothing to sing about.

What Is Menopause?

The medical definition of menopause is the end of menstruation. During menopause a woman's ovaries produce lower levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone; she is no longer able to become pregnant.

"If only it were that simple," says group member Rita Taylor.

Technically, a woman reaches menopause when she hasn't had a menstrual period for one year. The symptoms normally associated with menopause -- weight gain, hot flashes, insomnia, night sweats, fatigue, short-term memory problems, mood swings -- are really suffered most during the period of perimenopause, which for some women can begin as early as the late 30s.

Menopause is the end of a long, slow process. Getting there is the hard part.

"There's all this talk of women being bitchy when they're going through menopause. It's no mystery. We don't sleep. No wonder we're cranky," says Peggy Cassidy.

Other Signs Of Menopause

The ladies have other signs that you just might be in menopause.

"Menopause is when you get to work and find you've got on one brown shoe and one blue shoe," says Mindy Vargas.

"It's covering your kitchen counter with notes to remind yourself to do complicated things like feed the dog and turn off the oven before you leave the house," Garcia says.

"It's turning up the air conditioner and sweating up a storm while your husband reaches for an extra blanket," says Taylor.

Menopause is also normal part of life. But to many women it signals the end of their youth. Once she reaches menopause and her childbearing years come to an end, it's assumed that a woman's physical and mental faculties will begin to decline as well. But redefining menopause and focusing on the positive aspects can lead women to the realization that while they may no longer be able to bear children, they are embarking on a journey that's quite extraordinary.

Positive Redefinition

In her landmark book, "Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom," Dr. Christiane Northrup said this to say about "the change": "No other stage of a woman's life has as much potential for understanding and tapping into women's power as this one -- if, that is, a woman is able to negotiate her way through the general cultural negativity that has surrounded menopause for centuries."

The women of the group have learned to take that power.

"In the past, I catered to everyone -- my husband, my kids, my coworkers …you name it. Now I take care of me. I do what I want, when I want and I don't feel guilty about it," Vargas says.

Risks Increase

But menopause is also a time when the risk for many diseases increases. This is mostly due to hormonal changes and fluctuations.

One of the biggest questions facing women during this period of their lives is whether they should consider hormone replacement therapy to help offset the lower levels of hormones.

There is no right or wrong answer, since each woman has her own medical history and individual needs. HRT also carries risks that a woman must weigh against whatever benefits she may derive from it.

"Don't take expert advice about what you should do with your body without first examining how if will affect you personally," Garcia says. "The more information you have, the better your chances of making decisions that are right for you."

Taylor had a specific health issue to consider.

"When I was in my early 40s, I had a lot of uterine fibroids. My doctor suggested I have a hysterectomy since I no longer wanted children. I asked him if he planned to have any more children. When he said no, I asked if he wouldn't mind having his testicles removed," she says.

"That's another thing about mid-life," says Garcia. "We speak our minds and don't apologize for it."

Prepare For Menopause

The women of the South Florida group agree that preparing for menopause is the best weapon a woman has to combat whatever negative beliefs surround it.

They suggest the following as antidotes.

Learn about menopause through books, articles and Web sites

Talk to friends and relatives who have already gone through menopause

Join a menopause or midlife support group

Pamper yourself. Eat right, get enough rest and exercise

Seek balance between your work and personal life

Discuss any concerns you may have with your doctor, know your medical options and take charge of your health

Menopause is also a time for spiritual growth, they say. Meditate, go on retreats or reconnect with your religion.

"Lighten up and laugh," Taylor advises. "If you believe menopause is a curse, it will be. But if you see it as a time in life when you're free of the fears and inhibitions of the past, you're in for the ride of your life!" Other Links:

Thermostat Wars

Reproductive Changes With Age

Blog Posts:

Turning 50: The Great Change

No More Sweaty Spring Night Sweats

If It's So Fun, Do We Need A Musical?