Why is menopause hard?

Answer 1

Menopause isn't exactly 'hard' -- every woman goes through it -- just like periods. Its just that its a time when you STOP getting your periods because of alot of changes in your hormones --just like puberty. Only, in menopause, your estrogen and progesterone levels are going down, while in puberty, they are rising.
So... a woman going thru menopause may have mild to sever symptoms ranging from hot flushes, anxiety, irregular periods ann so on. But, like puberty, once your thru with the 'going thru menopause' part, most of these disappear.
Postmenopausal women are at an increased risk for osteoporosis. With low levels of estrogen, there may be deceased desire for sex, lack of vaginal lubricatioin, vaginal mucosa atrophy, urinary tract infections....etc., for which hormone replacement therapy is of use.

Answer 2

http://www.menopause.org/default.htm