If the entire menopause cycle can take anywhere from 8 to 10 years, how do I know when to start keeping track? How do we know if we have started into menopause? I have read just about everything I could get my hands on in the subject but I have also read that every woman’s experience is different. I feel that I have some of the early signs and symptoms but then one month they can be completely gone. How do I know for sure without taking any medications to even me out? I do not want to start taking pills until I know for sure.