Top 10 Most Common Symptoms of Menopause

Most women at about 35, start to experience a decline in progesterone levels. Some women barely notice. Others experience premenstrual symptoms (PMS), or increase uterine bleeding. Over forty, most women's hormones begin to fluctuate, as the ovaries slow down. About 75% of all women experience some peri-menopause symptoms. But you're not alone, over 30 million women are menopausal! Below are the top 10 symptoms of menopause! 

Top 10 Most Common Menopause Symptoms

1. Hot Flashes & Nigh Sweats: A hot flash is a signal that you're experiencing a decrease in estrogen supply. It is the side affect of an estrogen withdrawal. Common in about 60-80 percent of women, a hot flash is often described as a sudden burst of heat across the body that can last anywhere from 5 seconds to 5 minutes.  If a hot flash occurs as night, it's call night sweats. Often resulting in a lack of sleep. 
2. Decreased Libido: Menopause is often responsible for a decrease in estrogen and testosterone. Both of these hormones play a key role in a women's sex drive. With this decrease women may notice that they're not as easily aroused, and that they are less sensitive to touching. 
3. Fatigue: A change in hormonal levels caused by menopause can often result in fatigue. Hormones play a vital roll in regulating cellular energy in the body, when compromised it can lead to fatigue. Not to mention those pesky night sweats mentioned above are probably not helping you achieve a solid nights rest. 
4. Weight Gain: A hormonal shift can often cause an increase fat around the abdomen of the body. 
5. Menstrual Irregularities & Changes: Perimenopause is the time period before a women becomes fully menopausal. During this cycle your hormone levels increase and decrease in a regular pattern. As a result you might experience irregular bleeding or changes in your period.  
6. Vaginal Dryness: The hormone estrogen helps to maintain the fluid in the vagina and keep the lining of the vagina healthy, thick, and elastic. During menopause, your estrogen levels drop causing vaginal dryness and making the vaginal wall thinner and less elastic. 
7. Emotional Changes: Menopause emotions can range anywhere from mood swings to severe depression. Anxiety might make you feel nervous, worried, or panicky. Finding ways to cope with the emotions is critical, and making lifestyle changes can often help. 
8. Acne: What we once thought was banished during out teenage years can also be found again during menopause. Thats right, acne. Changes in your hormone levels caused by menopause affects the way in which the skin protects and regenerates itself. Often resulting in patches of acne around the mouth and chin area. 
9. Heart Palpitations: Heart palpitations are irregular heart beats that can include skipped beats, extra beats, or a racing heart. They are most common in women who are perimenopausal or menopausal and often last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. 
10. Headaches: Migraines or headaches often occur before a period or ovulation. These are also known as "menstrual migraines" and happen when estrogen levels plunge during a menstrual cycle. So when the body begins to slow down the production of estrogen due to menopause, headaches and migraines can worsen. 

What Now?

If you have any questions, or would like to talk to a Dr. about Hormone Replacement Therapy (hot) follow the link below to set-up your free phone consult today!