Symptoms Of Menopause
Symptoms of menopause can begin to affect a woman years before menopause actually begins. This period of time is known as perimenopause and is defined by the hormonal changes that occur as the body transitions into menopause. The ovaries begin to produce less estrogen & progesterone and this can decrease your level of testosterone as well.
Low hormone levels can lead to symptoms of menopause including: poor sleep, low energy, weight gain, low libido and mood problems. The good news is that if you are experiencing issues due to hormone problems there may be effective treatment options. Click here to learn more about how to balance your hormones and get rid of symptoms of menopause.
1. Irregular Periods
Irregular periods can occur for a variety of reasons. With symptoms of menopause the regular increase and decrease of estrogen and progesterone that once signaled the start and stop of the menstrual cycle becomes unbalanced. This imbalance can cause your cycle to come earlier or later than expected.
2. Hot Flashes
Hot flashes are the most well-known symptoms of menopause, affecting approximately half of menopausal women.
3. Fatigue
A consistent tired feeling that cannot be remedied with a good night's rest may be a symptom of menopause. This can make daily living difficult and impact productivity. Chronic fatigue can occur during menopause and drastically affect quality of life, including putting a strain on relationships, diminishing productivity at home or work and increase stress.
4. Memory Lapses
Memory loss can be a common symptom of menopause. Estrogen and progesterone are both believed to play a role in memory and decreasing hormone levels may contribute to memory issues.
5. Loss of Libido
A disinterest in sex can be a symptom of menopause. Some women may experience depression or irritability during menopause, which can drastically affect sexual health.
6. Night Sweats
Sweating can be a symptom of menopause and may be disruptive to the sleep cycle and may even cause stress or anxiety for many women during the day. Like hot flashes, night sweats can be the result of a hormonal imbalance.
7. Vaginal Dryness
Dryness can occur due to the decline of estrogen levels and can be a symptom of menopause. This effect can make natural lubrication difficult leaving many women in pain during intercourse.
8. Mood Swings
Fluctuating hormone levels during menopause can impact neurotransmitters in the brain. These neurotransmitters, like Dopamine, GABA, & Serotonin, regulate feelings and mood in the brain. When hormones are out of balance extreme mood swings can occur. This can be a common symptom of menopause.
9. Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is characterized by emotional episodes that result in irrational anxiety or fear. Signs of panic disorder can be a symptom of menopause.
10. Urinary Tract Infection
Low estrogen levels can induce changes in the vaginal bacteria resulting in frequent urinary tract infections. Frequent UTI’s can be a symptom of menopause.
11. Bloating
Bloating is characterized by extreme fullness, tightness or a swelling of the belly. Out of balance estrogen levels can cause water retention. Estrogen can be out of balance and can be a symptom of menopause.
12. Hair Loss or Thinning
Hair thinning during menopause is caused by low levels of estrogen. Hair follicles require estrogen to grow and stay healthy. Hair may become drier and more brittle, and may break or fall out in the shower or while brushing. Hair loss can be a significant symptom of menopause.
13. Sleep Disorders
Insomnia can be a symptom of menopause. Sleep issues can exacerbate hormonal balance problems.
14. Dizziness
Dizziness can be a symptoms of menopause and may come on suddenly. Women who experience frequent or extended dizzy spells during menopause are at increased risk of falling.
15. Weight Gain
Increased abdominal fat can be a common symptom of menopause. If you are working extra hard to eliminate body fat with minimal success, hormones could be the issue.
16. Incontinence
Reduced levels of estrogen that occur during symptoms of menopause can thin the walls of the urinary system and cause incontinence.
17. Headaches
When the body begins to slow production of estrogen women may experience more headaches. Headaches can become more intense as hormone levels decline and may be a symptom of menopause.
18. Burning Oral Areas
Lower estrogen levels can cause pain or burning sensation on the tongue, lips, gums or other spot in the mouth. These may be a symptom of menopause.
19. Digestive Problems
Estrogen helps keep stress hormones low. When estrogen declines during menopause it can affect stress hormones and cause significant digestive issues.
20. Tight Muscles
Increased Muscle tension can be a symptom of menopause. Many women notice increased tension in the neck and mid back areas as they age.
21. Allergies
Increased sensitivity to allergens can be a symptom of menopause. Some women experience rashes, itchy eyes and sneezing. Others, however, can have more severe allergic reactions.
22. Brittle Nails
Low levels of estrogen can cause nails to become brittle and dry. Brittle nails may be a symptom of menopause
23. Body Odor
Menopause can cause changes a woman's natural scent. This is likely due to an alteration in hormones in the body and can be a symptom of menopause.
24. Increased Skin Aging
Collagen loss can be observed in the initial stages of menopause. When estrogen levels drop collagen production can decrease. Collagen gives the skin a youthful appearance. Low collagen production can lead to thinning of skin. This thinning can lead to increase skin aging and can be a symptom of menopause.
25. Osteoporosis
Estrogen is a key hormone for maintaining bone density. Throughout life, estrogen inhibits bone resorption. When estrogen levels drop during menopause, bone loss can accelerate rapidly. This puts postmenopausal women at risk for osteoporosis.
26. Tingling Hands & Feet
Menopause symptoms may also include a tingling sensation that generally affects the arms, hands, legs, and feet.
27. Insomnia
Sleep issues may be a side effect of menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety and panic disorders. Low levels of progesterone that occur during menopause have been linked to poor sleep.
28. Irregular Heartbeat
Hormone fluctuation during menopause can stimulate the nervous and circulatory systems and can cause irregular heartbeats.
29. Anxiety
Symptoms of menopause can include anxiety and make it difficult to relax.
30. Difficulty Concentrating
Focus issues can affect women throughout perimenopause and menopause. Estrogen and progesterone both play a role in memory and focus. These hormones can become imbalanced and may be a symptom of menopause.
31. Depression
Symptoms of menopause can result in feelings of sadness that may evolve into depressed mood. Whenhormones levels decrease menopausal women may also find it difficult to find happiness or calm.
32. Breast Tenderness
Breast tenderness can be a symptom of menopause. Breast soreness generally improves once hormones are balanced. Other serious medical conditions can cause breast tenderness so regular breast exams are important.
33. Joint Pain
We see many women with joint pain due to menopause. Estrogen impacts inflammation levels in the body. Routine physical activity may improve joint pain.
Balancing Hormones & Menopause
Bioidentical hormone therapy is known to improve symptoms of menopause because of their structural match to your body’s natural hormones. Our goal is to restore your hormone levels using bioidentical hormones and get you back to living your best life! Click here to learn more about balancing your hormones and getting rid of the symptoms of menopause.
