There may also be another reason. When we were growing up, our diets were vastly different to our own parents/grandparents. Our generation has been exposed to colourings, additives and chemicals in the environment in our formative years that the older generation were not exposed to.
Hydrogenation of vegetable oils to stop products from going rancid and hence prolonging the shelf life of foods containing it for example, has been cited in studies of being the culprit that destroys GLA (Gamma Linoleic Acid). This substance is essential in females to make our hormones needed for a healthy menstrual cycle and therefore a symptom free menopause one would suppose.
Who knows what other processes and chemicals we are ingesting in differing combinations could be affecting our hormone balance?
Couple this with juggling careers, families,chores and high expectations of what a "perfect woman" should be in the media and society; no wonder we are perhaps having a harder transition than our elder sisters for the most part
All we can do is what we are doing right now. Help each other, read up as much as we can and try and laugh at the sometimes silly things we do safe in the knowledge that we're not alone.
