-- THE BELOW DIAGRAM AND INFORMATION HAS BEEN EXCERPTED FROM US NEWS NOVEMBER 2002 -- The body at menopause The end of regular menstrual cycles reverberates through the entire woman.  The brains, the heart, the skin, and a host of other organs are all affected.   MENOPAUSE ON THE BRAIN Menopause may get its start as a disconnect between the ovaries and the brain.  Nerve cells in the hypothalamus normally send regular pulses to the ovaries. This signals the ovaries to make estroghen and progesterone, which travel throughout the body and braind.  But in midlife, the whole cycle gets disrupted. HOT FLASHES For some women there's just a vague feeling of warmth.  For others the skin suddenly flushes and beads with sweat, while the pulse races. HOW IT HAPPENS Capillaries in the skin dilate, blood rushes in, pores open wide, and hairs flatten down AFTER THE FLASH Capillaries contract, and the skin becomes pale and cold as blood drains away BRITTLE BONES When estrogen levels drop off, so does calcium in the skeleton.  As a result, the risk of osteoporosis and spine, hip, and other fractures goes up. brought to you by FemOne Inc. www.femone.com