A British survey found that one in four women go as long as three years before noticing the symptoms of menopause, reports the BBC.
In addition, nearly half of the women surveyed reported waiting more than a year before going to their doctor for help with symptoms and a third had not seen a doctor at all.
Even when they do seek medical assistance, one in 10 cancels the appointment out of concern that she's wasting the doctor's time, the survey shows.
Experts say ignoring menopause symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats can leave women vulnerable to a host of conditions, including osteoporosis and high blood pressure.
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