What are the symptoms of menopause?

Symptoms of menopause

The most common physical symptoms of menopause are hot flashes, night sweating, and vaginal dryness. Over 70% of women experience these menopause symptoms. Symptoms of menopause often appear several years before menopause, which is called perimenopause. In perimenopause, a woman’s periods often become irregular. For some women, periods may be heavier and more frequent, while other women may experience shorter and less frequent periods.

Symptoms of menopause include:

• Hot flashes – sudden spells of sweating and rise in body temperature lasting about 5 minutes. Hot flashes typically occur during the first year of menopause, but sometimes persist for many years in some women.
• Vaginal dryness – changes in estrogen level affect the vaginal walls and bladder. The loss of estrogen during menopause leads to a loss of blood flow and thinning of the vaginal walls. Up to 40% of postmenopausal women experience vaginal dryness or irritation.
• Headaches – changes in hormone levels during menopause can trigger migraine headaches.
• Bone and joint pain
• Loss of sex drive
• Weight gain
• Fatigue and loss of sleep
• Breast tenderness