Signs and Symptoms of Menopause

Millions of women every year are thrust into a world of the unknown. As a woman reaches the age of 47 to 52, her body will stop producing adequate levels of the hormone estrogen. Over time, the levels will continue to decline and eventually stop. With this, her monthly menstrual cycle ends and she is now in menopause. Unfortunately, along with this time of her life comes a huge list of signs and symptoms of menopause, none of them enjoyable. Although some of the symptoms could be mild, others might send the woman over the top. The most common signs and symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, headaches, joint pain, irritability, and mood swings, among others. Keep in mind that these symptoms affect each woman different but in general, you would expect to see what we have provided in this article.

The first thing a woman will notice is that instead of having a regular monthly cycle, she begins to miss one period here and there or they become lighter or heavier. This is the classic sign of peri-menopause or the beginning of menopause. This change occurs when the woman’s body no longer produces adequate levels of the hormone estrogen. Once the woman’s monthly cycle is changed other symptoms being to occur. In almost all cases, hot flashes are the next thing noticed, as they are hard to ignore. With this, there is an overwhelming sensation of intense heat that covers the face, neck, and sometimes down the arms and chest. These hot flashes will last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. In addition, hot flashes are often accompanied with yet another symptom of menopause known as night sweats. These are literally what they sound like – profuse sweating that occurs during the night. They can disrupt sleep and make a woman feel miserable.

Menopause will also trigger mood swings, depression, and irritability. The woman will often feel a sense of panic, almost as if losing control over something. At times, these sensations are slight and easy to manage but other times they are so daunting that the woman will go into bouts of crying and hysteria. Along with anxiety and depression is often fatigue, insomnia, low appetite, and sadness. Although not fun to deal with they are all completely natural and to be expected. Remember, if this particular sign and symptom of menopause becomes too serious, then it is crucial that the woman seek medical care from her doctor. Interestingly, some women will become very moody and irritated and not even realize it until someone points it out to her. At that time, the changes she has been feeling all make sense.

Insomnia or problem with sleeping is yet another sign and symptom of menopause that can be very disruptive to life. If the woman needs to rise early to get kids off to school or go to work, the last thing she needs is a night without sleep. When the insomnia is coupled with night sweats, she will quickly become worn out. Many times, simply taking vitamins and minerals daily will be enough to make a difference, especially magnesium and calcium. In addition, it is important to avoid alcohol or caffeine within three hours of going to bed, not exercising within three hours of bedtime, and avoid stimulation such as television or reading. Usually with a few adjustments and the problem with insomnia will decrease.

Finally, struggling with sex drive and vaginal dryness is a sign and symptom that affects not just the woman but her partner as well. For most women, they merely lose an interest in sex or may find intercourse too painful because of the dryness. First, B vitamins can help improve sex drive and lubricants can make sexual intercourse enjoyable. The key here is for the woman to talk to her primary care giver or gynecologist as soon as the symptoms become too much. In most cases, a good treatment plan can be identified that will make all the difference in the world.