Menopause is a natural transition in a woman's life when her periods stop permanently and she can no longer get pregnant naturally. The years leading up to menopause are called perimenopause. During perimenopause, estrogen levels become irregular but are still present. Once a woman has gone 12 straight months without a period, she has officially reached menopause.
The average age for menopause is 51, but it can happen anytime between the ages of 40 and 55. Every woman experiences menopause a bit differently, but here are some of the most common symptoms:
Vasomotor Symptoms
- Hot flashes - Sudden feelings of warmth spreading through the body, often most pronounced in the face/neck/chest area. Hot flashes can last from 30 seconds to 10 minutes and vary in frequency.
- Night sweats - Hot flashes occurring at night that can cause intense sweating and sleep disruption.
- Chills - A sudden feeling of coldness right after a hot flash.
Vaginal Symptoms
- Vaginal dryness - Decrease in lubrication making intercourse painful. Thinning tissues also make vaginal irritation/infections more likely.
- Irregular periods - More or less frequent, lighter or heavier, until menstruation finally stops.
Urinary Symptoms
- Incontinence - More frequent need to urinate. Possibly even leaking when sneezing/coughing/laughing.
- Urinary tract infections - The urethra opening shrinks with less estrogen, increasing infection risk.
Mental Health Symptoms
- Mood changes - Irritability, anxiety, sadness, insomnia
- Trouble focusing/forgetting things - Estrogen plays a role in neurotransmitter production/regulation.
- Loss of motivation - Changing hormone levels affect dopamine production related to drive/motivation.
Physical Symptoms
- Weight gain - Metabolism slows down as women get older and estrogen dips. Fat storage moves to the abdomen.
- Hair loss/brittle nails - Estrogen is important for hair/nail growth and health. Lower levels can cause thinning.
- Joint pain - Joints lose flexibility and bone density declines due to lowered estrogen.
- Headaches - Changing estrogen causes headaches in some women.
- Tingling extremities - Some women feel tingling in their hands and feet.
- Electric shock sensation - Odd electric jolt sensations in the arms/legs that come and go.
- Fatigue - Shifting hormones, sleep disruptions, and stress can cause low energy.
- Breast pain - Some women experience breast tenderness/swelling as hormone levels change.
- Gum/mouth issues - Menopause decreases saliva, causing gum/tooth/mouth soreness.
- Digestive issues - Estrogen helps bowel muscle contractions. Lower levels can lead to cramps, bloating, diarrhea/constipation.
The
timing and
severity of symptoms varies widely among women. While menopause usually lasts 6-8 years, some symptoms may come and go (like hot flashes), while other changes (like vaginal dryness) persist.
At Hormone Health Institute, we help women balance their hormones for a smoother, healthier transition through perimenopause and menopause. Our experienced physicians provide cutting-edge testing and create customized treatment plans using
bioidentical hormones to alleviate symptoms. Contact us today to see how we can help you thrive during this next phase of womanhood.
