What are common symptoms of menopause?

All women will eventually experience menopause at some point of time in her life. It is estimated that 4 in every 100 women will experience menopause. However, its causes and symptoms are not totally known, as there are numerous signs and symptoms that can cause menopause. The expert study says that, menopause is confirmed when a woman has not had her menstrual period for over a year.

The signs and symptoms of menopause may vary as the women who suffer from them, but there are some commonly observed symptoms, such as hot flashes, irregular periods, and low sex drive. Usually during menopause, the production of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone hormones are interrupted and can therefore, lead to hormonal changes.

These changes in hormonal patterns can cause to the body to react in strange ways; these are commonly known as menopause symptoms. Most symptoms associated with menopause actually occur during the perimenopause stage. Some women go through menopause without facing any complications or unpleasant symptoms. While, some find menopausal symptoms draining, and last for years.

Some of the symptoms that women experience primarily are related to a lowered production level of female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. Its symptoms vary widely due to the many effects that these hormones have on the female body.

Read on to learn more about some of the common and uncommon signs and symptoms of menopause.

Irregular periods

This is typically the first symptom, wherein the menstrual pattern changes. Some women may have periods every 2-3 weeks, while others will not have one for months.

Vaginal dryness

Along with vaginal dryness, one may also experience itching and/or discomfort. Some may experience pain during sex. Vaginal atrophy is inflammation of the vagina as a result of the thinning and shrinking of the tissues, as well as decreased lubrication, caused due to lack of estrogen hormone.

Lower fertility

During the perimenopausal stage, the level of estrogen will drop significantly, and lowering the chances of getting pregnant.

Urinary problems

Women tend to be more liable to suffer from urinary tract infections (UTIs), such as cystitis. Urinary frequency may also increase.

Hot flashes

A sudden feeling of heat usually in the upper body, it then spreads downwards. This can make your skin red and sweaty. The heart rate may suddenly increase, or it might become irregular or stronger than usual. Hot flashes usually occur during the 1^st year after a woman's final period.

Night sweats

Hot flushes that occur at night are called night sweats. Most women experience their hot flashes at night that lasts for a few minutes.

Disturbed sleep

This may make you feel tired and irritable during the day. Sleeplessness is commonly caused by night sweats, but not always. Sleep disturbance may be caused by insomnia or anxiety. Difficulty in falling asleep and staying asleep increase as a woman goes through menopause.

Mood swings

Disrupted sleep is the main cause of mood swings. Studies say that most mood changes are triggered due to poor sleep.

Going further menopause can also lead to increase the risk of developing certain other problems such as weak bones (osteoporosis). Therefore, it is advisable to schedule regular appointments with your doctor so that you can monitor your health and get answers to any question that you have about menopause symptoms.