Signs and symptoms of menopause

Hot flushes are one of the most common menopause symptoms. Studies show that over 80% of women will experience them at some point during their menopause . Most people start getting them during the perimenopause stage, followed by an increase in the severity and frequency of episodes during the menopause stage, and then a decline in the postmenopause stage.

Some women only have mild hot flushes occasionally, which cause no real issues in their day to day lives. But others can have them several times a day, and they can be very intense – causing discomfort, embarrassment, and disrupting their routine. Hot flushes can start a few months, or even years, before your period stops and may continue for years after your last period, making this symptom one of the most persistent and worst to deal with.

Hot flushes are thought to be caused by changes in your hormone levels which affect your body’s temperature control. They can happen without warning but are usually associated with certain triggers, like eating spicy foods, smoking, drinking alcohol, wearing hot clothing or even stress and anxiety. If you can find your triggers, you might be able to prevent them from happening too often. But finding triggers can be tough, especially if you get triggered by different things each time, or if you have multiple triggers.

Night sweats are hot flushes that occur while you’re sleeping. They may be strong enough to wake you up and make it harder for you to have a full night’s sleep.

Menopause can often disrupt your sleep. You might find it difficult to stay asleep all night if you’re experiencing night sweats, but that’s not the only thing that can cause difficulty sleeping during menopause. Stress and anxiety caused by other menopause symptoms can also contribute to problems sleeping.

A lower sex drive usually happens because of lower levels of oestrogen in your body when you’re reaching menopause. But it can also be explained by the emotional toll that this phase of your life can have on you. This can become a ‘vicous cycle’, as stress and anxiety can cause your sex drive to deplete, and the lower sex drive can also be the cause of your stress and anxiety.

Other menopause symptoms also contribute to a lower libido, such as a decrease in blood flow to the vagina, which can cause it to become dry, making sex uncomfortable or painful.

But this isn’t always the case. Some women experience the opposite effect and enjoy sex more after menopause, sometimes because the fear of becoming pregnant isn’t an issue anymore.

Memory problems and trouble concentrating can also be frustrating symptoms of the menopause. The cause for this is not fully known , but it can lead to high levels of stress and anxiety. If you’re having problems with your memory or focus, talk to your clinician about it – they might be able to help. Sometimes doing simple tasks, like keeping your brain active with puzzles or exercise, can help.

The anxiety and stress caused by menopause can also be the cause of your memory and concentration issues, so you might find that by getting emotional support or counselling, these other problems can get better too.

Vaginal dryness is one of the most common symptoms of menopause, and it’s caused by a decrease in blood-flow to the vagina due to hormonal changes. This can cause significant discomfort and pain during sex, making it one of the reasons why women might experience a lower sex drive during menopause.

The hormonal changes that come with menopause, as well as other menopause symptoms like difficulty sleeping and lower libido, can make you more likely to develop problems with your mental health – like anxiety or depression. Or you might notice that your general mood can fluctuate more than it used to.

Menopause can come with a range of symptoms, and you might not experience them all. Apart from the most common symptoms that most women will experience, you may also get:

• Dry and thinning hair and skin.
• Weight gain, usually around the abdominal area. Your body might store more fat and gain less muscle than before.
• Stiff joints that hurt when you move around.
• You might feel the need to urinate much more often, and urgently. You might also become more prone to develop urinary tract infections.
• Dry eyes and mouth.
• Tender breasts that lose some fullness.
• Headaches.
• Heart palpitations.
• Increased hair growth in the face, neck, chest and upper back.
• Glare sensitivity and blurry vision.
• A change in your body odour.
• Chills.
• Dental problems.
• Fatigue.
• Vaginal pain. You might be aware of the vaginal dryness that’s usually associated with menopause, but you might also experience a thinning of the vaginal and vulval tissue. This will make your intimate area more prone to irritation and inflammation which will cause pain, especially during sex.
• Bloating.
• Stomach pain. This is usually caused by the higher levels of stress you may experience during menopause.
• Burning mouth syndrome. Some women experience a decrease in saliva production during menopause, giving you a burning sensation on your inner cheeks, the roof of your mouth and your lips. This can also cause a slight metallic taste.
• Dizziness. This is usually caused by the fluctuating hormone levels a menopausal woman goes through.