Abstract
Extensive cross-cultural and comparative research reveals that the majority of women do not find the menopausal transition a difficult time. This research also shows considerable variation in symptom reporting at the end of menstruation. It is argued that socio/cultural variables, including language usage and expectations about the menopausal experience, do not fully account for these differences, and that biological variation must also be taken into account. In those societies where subjective reporting of symptoms, including vasomotor symptoms, is low, such findings should not be dismissed as the result of learned cultural expectations that mask reality.