What You Should Know About the Symptoms of Menopause

The symptoms of menopause can be unpleasant for some and barely noticeable for others. You may have hot flashes that are unbearable at times, while other women may have one minor hot flash per week, or none at all.

What is the same, though, is that all symptoms are the result of hormonal changes. Your hormone production starts decreasing during perimenopause, which can start in your 40s. It’s the transitional phase to menopause. For most women, menopause happens around age 51.

Our team at Eve Medical of Miami is here to inform you of some of the more common symptoms of menopause, and what to expect from them.

Signs and symptoms of menopause

Menopause symptoms may only require simple lifestyle changes or they can be severe and problematic, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Here are the most common symptoms of menopause:

• Irregular periods
• Hot flashes
• Mood swings
• Vaginal health problems
• Weight gain
• Sleep problems

Each woman may experience different symptoms of menopause; the severity of these symptoms can vary as well.

Mood swings

Mood changes are very common as you approach menopause. You can begin to experience them in your late 30s, and several factors may trigger them. Your ovaries produce fewer hormones, like estrogen, which can throw off your body’s natural balance.

Progesterone is an important hormone for women, as it regulates estrogen and is a relaxing hormone, according to the Women in Balance Institute. As your body prepares for menopause, hormone production fluctuates, so it’s easy to see how this can contribute to mood swings.

Hot flashes

Fluctuating estrogen levels can lead to hot flashes. These are periods of sudden heat that can last 30 seconds or 10 minutes. You may only experience hot flashes once a week, but they can happen multiple times in a single day.

Hot flashes can affect your entire body, but they typically happen in your chest, neck, face, and arms. The sweating is usually followed by cold shivering, similar to a fever. Our team can provide you with solutions to ease hot flashes if needed.

Vaginal dryness

During perimenopause and menopause, you may experience vaginal dryness, which can cause some discomfort and reduce sensation during sexual intercourse.

When hormonal imbalances are paired with vaginal dryness, it can decrease your interest in sex. Our team can recommend water-based lubricants or hormone replacement therapy if vaginal dryness is affecting your libido.

Other mental and physical changes from menopause

The changes your body can go through during perimenopause and menopause are plentiful, as we’ve discussed. But it can also create other mental and physical problems, such as depression and anxiety.

Urinary incontinence, a condition in which you have urine leakage and the sudden urge to urinate, is common. This happens as estrogen levels drop and your urethra tissue loses elasticity. Coughing, lifting heavy objects, and even laughing can cause urine loss.

Treatments that can help you

Our team can offer solutions to relieve your menopausal symptoms. Since menopause is different for everyone, he takes a personalized approach to help you find the right treatment.

He can use hormone replacement therapy to regulate estrogen levels, or he may prescribe antidepressants to help you with depression. To find out how the team at Eve Medica of Miami,l can help you with menopause symptoms, schedule an appointment online or call our office.