What are the symptoms of menopause?

There are various symptoms associated with menopause that are caused by the change in hormone levels. Most of these symptoms will last a from couple months to a couple of years. However, the intensity and duration of these menopause symptoms depends on the individual. Some common symptoms experienced by menopausal women include changes in menstruation, hot flashes, vagina and bladder problems, sex problems, sleep problems, mood changes and changes in your body. Now let’s investigate each of these symptoms in more specific detail.

Changes in Menstruation

This symptom is usually the first sign of menopause to most women. Usually, the changes in women cause their periods to have a lighter/heavier flow than normal as well as a loss of regularity. Oftentimes, the menstruation cycle will come more frequently and last longer than normal. These symptoms can also be accompanied by the presence of spotting in between periods.

Hot Flashes

This symptom tends to be the most common and the worst experienced by those when going through menopause. These flashes that last from 30 seconds to 5 minutes consist of a sudden feeling of heat that starts in the upper part of your body and can spread all over. Many times nausea, sweating, dizziness and a rapid

heart beat occur in conjunction with them. Hot flashes can cause your neck and face to become flushed in addition to your back, chest and arms acquiring red splotches. Flashes vary with the individual and can be anywhere from mild to severe. A portion of women can experience severe hot flashes that wake them at night called night sweats.

Vaginal and Bladder Problems

The changing estrogen levels that characterize menopause can initiate a drier and thinner genital area. This causes vaginal and urinary tract infections to be more common among menopausal women. Also, sexual intercourse may become undesired because it can be very painful with the extra dryness. Another problem associated with these is the inability to control the bladder. Many women experience difficulty holding in their urine and may find that they leak during exercise, laughing, sneezing, etc. and often can’t make it to the restroom in time.

Sex Problems

Many women’s feelings about sex are altered during menopause. Some women feel free because pregnancy is no longer possible after one year without a period. On the other hand, other women lose sexual desire because the vaginal dryness makes sexual intercourse painful.

Sleep Problems

Getting a good night’s sleep is difficult for many women who are going through menopause. Many women have trouble falling asleep and often wake up early or in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. Hot flashes (night sweats) can also contribute to poor sleep.

Mood Changes

Although there is no direct evidence, there may be a connection between menopause and a woman’s mood. However, depression is not a symptom and situational factors may play a role in mood changes, such as children moving out or feelings of exhaustion.

Changes in Your Body

During menopause many women experience weight gain (especially around the waist), loss of muscle mass, thinner skin, memory problems, joint/muscle pain and stiffness. Exercise routines in addition to a healthy diet are the keys to dealing with these changes.

Return to the "Menopause Articles page. "