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Symptoms of Menopause
Some of the symptoms of menopause can actually begin before the menstrual cycle stops. The term peri-menopause is the time before menopause actually begins. Menopause itself is considered when there is a time period of 12 months without a period. Symptoms of menopause begin gradually while the ovaries are still functioning and a woman is still having menstrual periods. These symptoms can begin as early as a woman's 30's, and may persist for years until menopause has occurred. The symptoms occur early because the levels of hormones produced by the ovaries (estrogen and progesterone) decline slowly over time, explaining why pregnancy is still possible, but less likely to occur, as a woman reaches her forties. The symptoms of menopause can wary widely from woman to woman varying in severity and longevity. Some only experience slight symptoms for a year or two, and some can experience them for many years.
Menopause symptoms can be perceived as physical problems, emotional disturbances, or problems associated with sexual functioning. Some physical symptoms include:
Hot flashes - sudden waves of mild or intense body heat
Night sweats - similar to hot flashes that occur at night and result in profuse sweating
Difficulty sleeping
Headaches
Increasing variability of the menstrual cycle , including irregular and missed periods
Decreased bone density (occurring later in the menopausal transition), potentially leading to osteoporosis and fractures.
Some emotional symptoms include:
Mood changes
Anxiety
Forgetfulness or problems with focus and concentration
Sexual symptoms may result from increasing dryness and thinning of the vaginal wall, leading to pain or discomfort during intercourse.
There are many ways to deal with the symptoms of menopause, and hopefully some of your questions can be answered on this site.
