To clarify -
Pre-menopause is known as perimenopause. This is a transitional phase which can start months or even years before your period stops.
Menopause is when your period stops.
Post menopause is when you've not had a period for 1 whole calendar year, if you're over 50. If you are under 50, it is 2 whole calendar years.
I've had an early menopause and at 42, am now post menopause. I went into peri menopause at 37. I am on HRT and intend to take HRT for as long as I am able to. It is not hyperbole to say HRT changed my quality of life immeasurably.
Tbh, it all depends on what symptoms you're experiencing as no two women will go through menopause in the same way. Some will lose their libido, others won't. Many will suffer vaginal atrophy and vaginal dryness, other won't. I completely lost my libido for a few years, but did not have to deal with vaginal dryness or atrophy, thank god. Another common symptom are recurrent UTIs. Thankfully, I bypassed this too. Also, because your hormones will be in flux for anywhere up to a decade, although typically 4-8 years, symptoms will come and go. HRT really is the only real solution to managing symptoms, particularly things like vaginal atrophy, dryness and UTIs which will definitely inhibit what services you provide. While I did not suffer any of these, I did notice that for a while, sex was painful and uncomfortable. This is no longer the case. Additionally, many women lose their sense of self, many become increasingly besieged with anxiety and these things do make going about your day to day life very very hard.
The best thing I can recommend is to educate yourself and to start reading now so you know what the symptoms are. It isn't always about your periods per se, there are 38 symptoms of the menopause, many of which such as hot flushes, night sweats and lack of sleep can severally impact your life, and for me, were the main players and debilitating. For me, my periods were the last thing to go awry.
But, as I said, some women have a painless transition through menopause with very few symptoms or side effects, and others have a terrible time. There really is no way of knowing what your experience will be.
I have no doubt any of the other women on this board who have been/are going through menopause will have their own story to add - there really is no one-size fits all experience.
I hope that helps.