Menopause symptoms

Perhaps the most telltale sign of menopause is the onset of hot flashes. He may feel hot and nervous even though everyone else is cool, calm, and collected, and he may complain bitterly when he opens the windows and turns off the heat. Hot flashes occur when the part of the brain that regulates body heat, the hypothalamus, doesn’t work at all when deprived of estrogen. One minute, you may be cold and shivering; the next minute you can feel like hell, with an uncontrollable urge to take off all your clothes and bedding.

Nearly 80 percent of menopausal women have problems with hot flashes, and in 70 percent of this group, hot flashes will occur, on average, over a 5-year period. This manifestation varies in severity and may be associated with heart palpitations, dizziness, and strange tingling or itching sensations under the skin.

Another symptom of estrogen deficiency at menopause is increased body aches and pains. Headaches may become more severe or frequent, joints may ache, back and neck may ache, and one may begin to suffer from various rheumatic aches and pains.

Vaginal tissues are very sensitive to the effect of estrogen deficiency. More than 50 percent of menopausal women are concerned about vaginal dryness and a lack of adequate lubrication during sexual intercourse. This causes discomfort or pain during intercourse and, in severe cases, can result in some bleeding from the fragile mucous membrane that lines the vagina. Without the strengthening effect of estrogen, the vagina may be more susceptible to yeast and bacterial infections, which can lead to vaginal discharge, itching, and burning.

Bladder tissues are also sensitive to estrogen deficiency during menopause. Some menopausal women complain of a frequent and urgent desire to urinate, reduced ability to urinate (stress or urge incontinence), reduced bladder capacity, and they become more prone to bladder infections. Fortunately, these symptoms can be overcome with a combination of pelvic floor exercises, hormone replacement therapy, and nutritional measures.

Both the superficial and deeper layers of skin on the face and body are sensitive to estrogen. Without estrogen, the skin becomes thinner and more fragile, more prone to developing discolorations and broken capillaries, and less able to retain moisture. The skin is more susceptible to dehydration and irritation and the depletion of collagen results in a more rapid appearance of wrinkles.

Another manifestation of menopause is difficulty falling asleep or waking up early in the morning. The problem may be associated with or worsened by hot flashes at night. Studies have shown that taking estrogen increases the proportion of sleep time spent in the sleep phase. Many women find that taking estrogen improves memory and decreases irritability. This may be due, in part, to the beneficial effect of estrogen on sleep.

Mental and emotional changes are common around the time of menopause. The most common complaints are depression and anxiety. Personality change, with rapid mood swings, irritability, loss of confidence, and panic attacks can occur in women who did not have any of these problems before menopause. Some women say they feel numb and can no longer muster any passion. If this occurs on a physical level, the woman may experience a complete loss of libido and, in extreme cases, she may become completely unresponsive sexually.

Your mental attitude is a power factor in coloring your personal experience of menopause. Estrogen deficiency does not adversely affect all women. In fact, some women go through menopause without emotional problems. Some women find that the cessation of the hormonal ups and downs associated with monthly menstrual cycles makes their menopause a time of calm and serenity.