By Amos Grunebaum M.D.. As women reach age 40, they begin considering menopause and how it will feel to move into the years of life when reproduction is no longer an alternative. For many women, menopause is like a rebirth with freedom from menstrual cycles and birth control choices. Other girls fear menopause symptoms will change their life for the worse. Here are 20 of the more common menopause symptoms.
Symptoms
- Hot Flashes – An immediate increase in body temperature leaves a woman feeling like her internal temperature has skyrocketed.
- Night Sweats – Waking in the middle of the night, sweating profusely.
- Lack of Sex Drive – Libido drops when hormone levels fall. Thoughts of sex many be few and far between without coercion from a spouse.
- Vaginal Dryness – Women often find they need lubrication for everyday relaxation and sexual intercourse.
- Mood Swings – From happy to sad to sad, moods may vary hourly, daily, or even weekly. Fatigue – Lack of sleep from night sweats may result in lack of energy throughout the day.
- Thinning Hair or Hair Loss – Hair follicles need estrogen to grow. Sleeplessness or
- Insomnia – Hot flashes, night sweats, and hormone levels make sleep difficult.
- Disorientation and Memory Lapse – Often associated with lack of sleep and estrogen deficiency.
- Loss of Balance – May be related to fatigue, anxiety, and estrogen levels.
- Weight Gain – Slowing metabolism and reduced estrogen may result in fat redistribution and keeping.
- Incontinence – Surgery, childbirth, and age are related to this frequent menopause symptom.
- Bloating – Another symptom related to age, some physicians link bloating to lactose intolerance or diets high in sodium and low in potassium.
- Body Odor – Associated with increased perspiration because of hot flashes and night sweats.
- Rapid Heart Beat – Normally happening during perimenopause.
- Depression – Estrogen is associated with serotonin levels. So less estrogen could imply less serotonin resulting in depression.
- Anxiety, Irritability, and Panic – These all fall in the mood swing class and are often associated with hormonal fluctuations.
- Headaches – Lack of estrogen may result in menopause migraines. HRT should block the pain.
- Joint Pain – Linked to varying hormone levels within the body.
- Electric Sensation in Head or on Skin – Thought to be connected to estrogen levels, pain or electrical sensation can feel like a rubber band snap. Some women suffer this symptom in front of a hot flash.
Conclusion
These are simply a couple of the symptoms associated with menopause. As is true for any chronic illness, some women suffer from some and many others suffer from many. A gynecologist can help work through the most severe symptoms and provide treatment choices.