The 34 Symptoms of Menopause

Whilst every woman has different symptoms of menopause, understanding the symptoms of menopause you could possibly get will help you manage your way through this transition period in your life. You might only have a few of the symptoms, and sail through this time but for some women they experience a number of these and can be overwhelmed with the severity of these symptoms.

Knowledge is so important as this time and understanding what is happening to your body, but just as important is protecting your health at this time too. With an increased risk of Heart Disease, High Cholesterol, Osteoporosis and Cancer, looking after yourself has never been so important.

So, what are the 34 Symptoms of Menopause?

Click on the underlined headings for more information on these Symptoms of Menopause!

Hot Flushes – Feeling like your body is overheating, often with a red face and neck, an early symptom you are approaching menopause.

Night Sweats and Cold Flushes – Often associated with sleep issues, these are a result of Hot Flushes, but you have them at night. Women also suffer with Cold Flushes, but they do not often last long. They work in the same way as Hot Flushes and are caused by fluctuating hormone levels.

Joint Pain – With Oestrogen levels declining, the joints become more susceptible to inflammation causing joint pain.

Vaginal Dryness and Low Libido– With the lack of Oestrogen, your vaginas natural lubrication is inadequate resulting in dryness and sometimes painful sexual intercourse. When it comes to Low Libido each woman is different, and some women find they have a higher sex drive during this time where as others have no desire for sex at all.

Weight Gain – Caused by hormonal changes your body is experiencing, gaining weight around your middle is rife during menopause.

Sleep Issues – A common symptom often leading to Insomnia, especially if you are suffering with Night Sweats too, which will cause you to wake.

Anxiety – Affects lots of women during menopause, one in three women suffer with this and it is often connected with Mood Swings too.

Depression – One of the less talked about symptoms of menopause, with mood swings and anxiety linked to menopause, you may experience depression because of these.

Brain Fog – Many women struggle to concentrate and find the right words during menopause, with declining Oestrogen levels, the brain is no longer able to make the energy it did with the aid of the Oestrogen by burning glucose which helps you to concentrate. Hence, leaving you to have concentration issues and Brain Fog.

Bloating – Often a sign that you are approaching menopause, and very common during the perimenopause stage.

For more information on these symptoms, I have written a book ‘Menopause Help: Before, During and After’. This is an easy read, symptom per page book written to inform Women and Men about symptoms of the Menopause! Click here or the picture below to purchase now!

Osteoporosis and Bone Issues – A significant function of Oestrogen is to keep our bones healthy and strong. As we go through menopause our Oestrogen levels decline and this can weaken our bones making them prone to fractures.

Irregular Periods – These are an early indication in most women that you are in Perimenopause, often bleeding for longer or shorter times and missing periods altogether.

Breast Issues – The same as when you have soreness during periods but one of the common symptoms of menopause.

Bladder Issues – Can be linked to menopause, and the inability to control your bladder. Often urinary leakage can happen when doing any physical activity during the menopause as it adds stress to the bladder.

Fatigue – Exhaustion is another common symptom during menopause, finding time for yourself and having some down time is key.

Dizzy Spells – Sudden and unexplained dizziness is again due to Oestrogen levels declining.

Headaches – Often if you suffered with headaches during your period, you are more likely to suffer with them during menopause.

Mood Swings – Similar to mood swings you experience during your period, but usually more extreme.

Irritability – With our hormones fluctuating constantly it is no wonder our mood changes with it. Exercise is great for controlling our mood.

Nausea and Digestive Issues – With increased cortisol levels and decreased oestrogen levels, excessive bloating, nausea, stomach pain and flatulence can occur.

Electric Shocks Sensations– Often linked to Hot Flushes, the neurons in the brain send out incorrect signals causing these shocks.

Allergies – Our hormones and immune system are linked, so when you are going through menopause it is often a time you become allergic to something you never have before.

Burning and Dry Mouth – Caused usually by a dry mouth, reducing Oestrogen levels in menopause leads to reduced saliva production.

Dental and Gum Issues – During menopause, dental and gum issues effect up to half of all women, often reporting a ‘metal’ like taste.

Hair Loss – During Menopause, hair loss and hair thinning is a common symptom, it can be age related but menopause can speed this up and make your hair thin and fall out at a faster rate.

Brittle Nails – Oestrogen is essential in keeping the keratin layer strong, which helps to maintain the overall strength of the nail. During menopause they become weaker and break more easily and are more prone to being brittle as the Oestrogen levels decrease.

Body Odour – With any sweating comes a change in our body odor, often due to hot flushes and night sweats, our body scent changes as well when you reach menopause.

Muscle Tightness – Yoga can be great for muscle tightness, relaxing and loosening the muscles. Often linked to stress, muscle tightness can be rife at this stressful and anxious time, going through menopause.

Tinnitus – With falling Oestrogen levels this is another common symptom of menopause, often resulting in a constant ringing in one or both ears.

Clumsiness and Bruising – Declining levels of Oestrogen and Progesterone can often cause a huge lack of concentration, leading to clumsiness and bruising.

Itchy Skin – Collagen, like Oestrogen, decreases during menopause, causing your skin to become drier and itchy.

Panic Disorder – Anxiety may contribute to panic attacks, these are more common during menopause.

Irregular Heartbeat – Lots of women say they feel their heart rhythm changes or they have palpitations during menopause. With Oestrogen levels in decline, this may cause misfiring of the neurons in the brain leading to an irregular heartbeat.

Tingling Sensation– Pins and needles, numbness, burning sensation and tingling are all part of this symptom. With Oestrogen level declining, this has an effect on our nervous system, throwing it off balance and causing these symptoms.

So, there we have the classic 34 symptoms of menopause! For some it is a breeze and nothing they cannot cope with, but for the majority, its challenging to say the least. From Perimenopause through to post menopause and beyond, some women suffer for many years and in silence.

For more information on the symptoms above we recommend the NHS website.

I hope after reading the blogs from The Menopause Lounge, and the individual symptoms of menopause explained simply and with some great tips and advice for how to ease, and hopefully manage better, that you will transition through menopause, with so much more knowledge and know how than many women have for generations before you.

Knowledge is a powerful tool, and my favourite saying of all applies here, “forewarned is forearmed”, the more information you have about these symptoms of menopause the easier the journey, and less stress and panic when new things start to happen to your body, giving you a sense of hope and with a degree of relief that you know and understand what is going on.

Do not forget, this is a new chapter of your life, and the good news is that many symptoms of menopause do not last long, or forever. New and exciting things often happen in your life when change occurs, so embrace it and remember you do not need to suffer, there is help out there.