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Menopause Parties Helping Women Deal With Growing Older

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Ellen Sarver Dolgen is an author who writes about and hosts menopause parties, events to recognize a milestone that used to be considered the beginning of old age.

"It's not about being old," Dolgen said. "It breaks a taboo and it opens up a conversation."

She brings together women in their early 30s to their late 50s to talk about the common bond of growing older.

Dolgen insists it's not about age, but aging gracefully.

"You know who's in their 40s? Jennifer Aniston, Demi Morre, Sandra Bullock, that is not old," she said.

"We need to have an age revolution," said Lisa Traina.

Many have never talked about menopause with anyone. "I've never spoken to my mother about menopause," said Andrea Pizziconi.

It's more than a party. Women share a glass of wine and pass a bowl of menopause related questions. These address problems and concerns and get women talking.

Sample questions include: "have you ever had your hormone levels checked?" and "do you pretend you're fine when really you're a complete mess?"

The discussions are frank and informative.

"I was sweating and not sleeping," one woman said.

Doctors agree this is a positive way for women to get and share information.

"When we get to that point where aging becomes something that is beautiful, where we celebrate the wisdom of older women, it's going to to be a lot easier to talk about without guilt or shame," said Dr. Hilda Hutcherson, Ob-Gyn at Columbia-Presbyterian.

"Frankly a women's in peri menopause, menopause and post menopause over half of her life. So I suffered, and I dont want anyone else to suffer. It isn't complicated," Dolgen said.

What do you think of menopause parties? Sound off in our comments section below...

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