The Nu Guide : The many symptoms of menopause
People are often surprised to learn that there is a wide range of symptoms attributable to menopause. Some sources list 34 main symptoms.
The hormones responsible for menstrual cycles are estrogen and progesterone. It’s when the levels of these naturally occurring hormones start to change that menopausal symptoms occur.
The time in the lead up to your final period is referred to as perimenopause. These symptoms can affect women at any age and although the typical age of menopause is around 50 years old, you can start to experience transition symptoms as early as your mid thirties.
There is no one neat definition of how a woman will experience these symptoms. Every woman is affected differently, by a unique combination of symptoms, over varying periods of time. The general advice that we give our customers and patients is: if you feel like something is not quite right, see a health professional.
Here are 34 possible symptoms of menopause transition (listed alphabetically):
Acne – Acne is a condition that people commonly associate with adolescence. However, recent studies show that it is a growing concern among people experiencing menopause. This is most likely due to the imbalance of hormones during and after menopause.
Allergies – new or worsening allergy symptoms are not uncommon. This happens because, during menopause, females can have spikes in histamine which is the chemical that causes allergic reactions.
Anxiety – hormone imbalances are known to cause anxiety. It might be worse at night or when hormone levels fluctuate.Both menopause-related depression and anxiety may be situational and improve once hormones level out.
Breast soreness – Breast tenderness is another common symptom of menopause.
Brittle nails – keratin is the magic ingredient of strong nails, and the production of this within the body is often decreased which can cause weak or brittle nails
Burning mouth – another result of estrogen levels dropping leading to a change in the mouth which can feel like burning, tenderness, tingling, heat or numbing in or around the mouth
Changes in taste – some people may experience changes in their sense of taste and/or a dry mouth which can affect taste.
Digestive changes – estrogen and progesterone affect the microbial content of a person’s mouth and digestive system. The reduction of these hormones changes the balance of bacteria in the mouth and gut which can contribute to changes in digestion or that certain foods aren’t agreeing with a person’s body anymore
Decreased libido – if you don’t feel like having sex, you’re not alone. Lower levels of sex hormones can make physical arousal more difficult, but a decrease in libido can also be due to changes in mood or medications
Depression – For some people, hormonal imbalances may trigger depression. A lack of sleep and stress can contribute to this.
Difficulty concentrating – A decline in estrogen can sometimes cause mental fogginess or difficulty concentrating. Hot flashes and sleep issues may also be contributing factors to feeling like you can’t concentrate
Dizzy spells – A 2018 study stated that dizziness is one of the most common symptoms of menopause, but the exact cause of it is not known
Electric shock sensations – Some people can experience sensations that resemble electric shocks during perimenopause and menopause. It is not clear what causes this, but it may be the result of changing hormone levels in the nervous system.
Fatigue – low quality sleep because of hot flashes, night sweats and/or hormonal fluctuations can be a contributing factor to fatigue. Prolonged fatigue can be upsetting and sometimes make daily life - including work - feel very difficult.
Headaches – thanks to fluctuations in hormones, headaches or migraines can become more frequent and in some cases, unpredictable
Hot flashes – possibly one of the most commonly reported symptoms of menopause, hot flashes cause a person to suddenly become hot, sweaty, and flushed, especially in the face, neck, and chest. Some people also experience chills.
Irregular heartbeat – Some people may experience an irregular heartbeat or palpitations during or after menopause. It is always a good idea to discuss symptoms relating to the heart with a healthcare professional.
Irregular periods – Throughout the menopausal transition, it is natural to have irregular or missed periods. Eventually, a person will stop having periods entirely.
Irritability – Either due to hormonal fluctuations or the effect of other menopause symptoms, people experiencing this change may feel irritable. Stress or a lack of sleep may also contribute to this
Itchiness – As estrogen is related to collagen production and skin hydration, a decline in this hormone can lead to increased itchiness or dryness, typically around the vulva, but may also occur elsewhere. This is where an oil-based vaginal moisturiser like Nu Balm can be used daily to make things more comfortable
Joint pain – Estrogen helps decrease inflammation and keep the joints lubricated. As a result, some people experience joint pain due to decreased estrogen. Estrogen is responsible for regulating fluid levels throughout the body, so when the body becomes low in this hormone, females are more prone to joint aches or menopausal arthritis.
Memory lapses – As with concentration and focus, menopause can also affect memory. This could be a direct result of lower estrogen levels or compromised sleep.
Mood changes – Mood changes are unpredictable shifts in mood unrelated to life events. They can cause someone to feel suddenly sad, weepy, or angry. Mood changes are common during perimenopause and menopause.
Muscle tension and aches – Individuals experiencing perimenopause or menopause can also develop muscle tension or aches. This is due to the same factors as menopausal joint pain.
Night sweats – Night sweats are hot flashes that occur at night. Scientists are not sure why they occur, but it appears that falling estrogen levels can affect the hypothalamus, which regulates body temperature.
Osteoporosis – During perimenopause, a decline in estrogen can also result in a loss of bone density. In severe cases, this can lead to osteoporosis, which causes the bones to become more fragile and break easily
Panic disorder – In some cases, individuals may experience panic attacks during menopause. When these attacks occur unexpectedly or suddenly, they can indicate panic disorder. This may happen due to hormonal changes or the fear of feeling anxious itself.
Recurring UTIs – Urinary tract infections (UTIs) become more common after menopause. This is due to the drop in estrogen that occurs following menopause. This causes the vaginal tissues to thin, leading to dryness, irritation, and other factors that make it easier for a UTI to develop. UTIs are recurrent if a person experiences three or more in 1 year or two or more within 6 months.
Sleep disturbance – Sleep can become lighter or disturbed due to night sweats, waking up earlier, feeling anxious or finding it difficult to get to sleep in the first place. This is sometime to manage to try and prevent it developing into fatigue
Stress incontinence – Stress incontinence refers to a frequent or sudden urge to urinate. This symptom is common during menopause as changes in hormone levels can cause the bladder and pelvic muscles to become weaker.
Thinning hair – During menopause, hair loss or thinning is another result of ovarian hormonal fluctuations. This causes the hair follicles to shrink, meaning that hair grows more slowly and sheds more easily.
Tinnitus – Tinnitus is a symptom that involves hearing a sound that has no external cause. This can include a ringing in the ears, roaring, or buzzing. It may affect one or both ears.
Vaginal dryness – As female sex hormones ensure that there is adequate circulation of blood around the vagina, a lack of them can decrease blood flow and, therefore, natural lubrication. This may cause dryness, which can be uncomfortable or make penetrative sex more difficult. We highly recommend that you use Nu Balm to make sexual intercourse more comfortable for you.
Weight gain – weight gain is experienced by some women going through menopause, but it’s usually as a result of the combination of other symptoms. For example, a combination of poor sleep, changing gut health, and feeling anxious may make some people not feel like exercising. Changing factors can affect metabolism too which can make it harder to burn fat.
If you’re feeling a little deflated after reading that list, we completely understand. It feels unfair to have to possibly deal with even some of those symptoms simply because we’re women.
The only good news is that with knowledge and understanding comes the ability to prevent, manage and navigate. We would highly recommend becoming familiar with these symptoms and perhaps even referring back to the list from time to time to check in on yourself. As always, we encourage you to book in to see your doctor or health professional to ask about anything that’s troubling you.
There is no quick fix or magic pill, but there’s the option to live consciously and carefully so that life feels as comfortable and uplifting as it can.
You’ve got this, girlfriend!
