My periods stopped suddenly at 48 with no warning signs. I thought I was pregnant! They never came back. I had almost no signs of menopause except a thicker waist and a kind of surge in confidence. Don't know how to describe it accurately but it was empowering. I wasn't shy about speaking up any more, in business meetings I talked to men like an equal instead of deferring to them. A little extra testosterone or just "hag-wisdom"? I don't know which it was but I liked it and still do.