What Are the Symptoms of Menopause?

Between the ages of thirty-nine and fifty, most women begin to experience the telltale signs that the next phase of their life is about to begin: change in menstrual pattern, hot flashes, irritability and mood swings.

Some experience mild symptoms while others are challenged by sleep difficulties, poor sense of well-being and depression. Such changes affect every woman at some point during the course of her reproductive life.

Classic symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, anxiety and memory problems. The onset of menopause, just like its symptoms, varies from woman to woman, but it usually begins during the fifth decade of life. Invariably, the symptoms of menopause affect each woman differently.

THE SYMPTOMS OF MENOPAUSE
Change in menstrual pattern:
One of the hallmark signs of menopause is the classic change in menstrual pattern. This change can range from lighter to heavier flow during cycles. Menstruation can also be longer or shorter than normal, even skipping cycles altogether.

Hot Flashes:
Perhaps one of the most discussed symptoms of menopause, the hot flash is a momentary sensation of heat along the skin and within the body. Some liken it to the effect of eating hot peppers as sweating, discomfort and flushing occur in many women.

Hot flashes often occur at night, and for some women they occur exclusively at night. Accompanied by excess sweating, these night sweats can create significant discomfort and increase sleep problems and insomnia. Many women have mitigated the effects of night sweats by purchasing an oscillating fan for the bedroom.

Anxiety and Depression:
Plagued by feelings that something bad is about to happen, many menopausal women suffer from extreme anxiety and depression. Changing hormones not only wreaks havoc with menstrual cycles and the physical body, but those hormones also affect the mind, spirit and emotions of women.

Anxiety tends to be manic and emotions tend to focus on sensations of dread. However, symptoms of depression run the gamut of wide and often variable signs including extreme fatigue, sadness, insomnia, lack of appetite and others.

Perhaps more troubling than physical symptoms, these emotional symptoms require care and attention. Stress reduction techniques including exercise and meditation have proved helpful to many women suffering from these painful and frustrating emotions.

Irritability and Mood Swings:
Irritability and mood swings often herald the larger problems of anxiety and depression; however, many women experience only mild mood changes. Frequently unaware of the changes in their moods, some women find themselves responding to their environment, friends, family and coworkers differently. Minor problems become large as women suffering menopause-related irritability react to potential triggers.

These mood swings can upset the status quo of relationships within the family and among friends. Most frustrating, these mood changes and their accompanying irritability seem to be uncontrollable which only serves to increase frustration and irritability.

Pursuing quiet hobbies and increasing the time a woman gives to herself can help tremendously; however, the empathetic support of friends and family members helps immeasurably.

Sleep Problems:
Inability to fall asleep, waking in the middle of the night and tossing and turning number among the various sleep problems that menopausal women encounter. Like other symptoms, sleep problems vary from woman to woman. Often accompanied by night sweats, tossing and turning can ruin a night of sleep for both a woman and her partner.

Fortunately, many women are able to mitigate sleeplessness by increasing their intake of vitamins and minerals, most notably calcium and magnesium, as well as consistent use of herbal remedies including valerian and chamomile teas.

Sex Problems:
Menopause can create significant changes to a woman's sex life. Many women find that they are no longer interested in sex. Some women even find that sex is painful due to vaginal dryness and other physical changes to their reproductive organs.

Many women find that lubricants can ease the frustration of vaginal dryness, providing a little extra element that improves the quality of one's sex life. While lack of desire and painful sex can be extremely frustrating and a challenge to romantic relationships, women can experience a happy, fulfilling sex life during menopause and after it.

Check with your health care provider as soon as any of these symptoms begin. Together, both of you can create a plan to manage your body and mind as you begin this next phase of your life. Remember, women may have some, none or all of these symptoms.

Menopause is a natural event within a woman's reproductive life. Though the symptoms of menopause can be frustrating and uncomfortable, there are many things that a woman can do to mitigate these unwelcome symptoms. All women will experience this journey, so take comfort and reach out to those who can help you.

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