There are several different kinds of menopause symptoms that affect women. It is good to learn about them as soon as possible, since the symptoms could show up ten years before menopause begins in earnest. This will help you recognize what is happening in your body and let you know what to expect. You can then examine your options for treating the symptoms.

Menopause can start at any time between forty and sixty years of age. Some women can even start to feel the oncoming effects in their thirties. Usually this is qualified as pre-menopause.

Many women believe that menopause is the permanent ending of a monthly period. This is merely just a symptom of the true cause. Menopause is when a woman’s ovaries stop producing the same levels of estrogen and stop releasing eggs. The reduced estrogen is what stops the periods. Decreased estrogen levels may explain many of the symptoms.

Periods will most likely be highly irregular before they stop entirely. Irregularity could mean either an increase or decrease in frequency and heaviness. Your body is rapidly trying to adjust to new ratios of hormones, so sometimes a body ends up skipping periods for several months or having periods occur a few times in a single month. You may experience cramping, breast soreness, and mood swings far more frequently, as well.

Decreased sexual drive is another side effect of lowered estrogen. This is very natural, considering the rapid changes one’s reproductive system is undergoing. Women can experience vaginal dryness or itching, which can also make sexual intercourse difficult or undesirable.

Women also note that their physical appearance can change. This is, once again, due to lower estrogen levels. Skin may not be as soft, hair may become brittle. There may even be more hair growth on new areas of the body, like the face or chest. Though this has no negative health effects, it can be damaging to one’s self-confidence.

Hot flashes may be the most uncomfortable symptom. It is a complicated reaction done so your body can attempt to regular itself–especially to regulate temperature. It is literally a sudden flash of heat that can make women sweat and feel weakly feverish. It ends as suddenly as it begins and many women are left cold. Medication is the only option. Most women choose to suffer through it with fans and ice cubes ready at all times, not knowing that there are different internal cures.

Since your body is undergoing a great deal of strain, headaches and migraines are common. Bone, joint, and muscle ache is also a common symptom as your body tries to adapt to its new hormone supply. Some women have reported changes in bladder capacity, feeling like they have to urinate far more frequently.

Depression may be the longest and most damaging of symptoms. The hormone changes could spark a chemical imbalance. The other common reason for depression is because women tend to have negative views around menopause. Many believe it has made them less of a woman or old. Other symptoms certainly do not do anything to ease depression. Since so many women have trouble sleeping due to menopause, it can make depression much worse. This is added to being sore and uncomfortable, having hot flashes, and no sex drive. Therapy has been known to do wonders for women, in addition to herbal supplements.

Jan Walodene is an expert author and writes about menopause and menopause night sweats .

Tags: Menopuase

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