Menopause can affect every woman differently. The symptoms can appear in various ways and begin seemingly out of nowhere, sometimes even before you think you're old enough. During menopause, you can expect to experience a few or many of them. So, how many symptoms are there? You may be surprised to know that there are about 34. By now, I'll bet you're wondering, what are the 34 symptoms of menopause?
What Is Menopause?
Puberty usually coincides with a girl's first menstrual period, while menopause is the complete end of menstrual cycles, a milestone usually reached after approximately 12 months without a period. Regardless of whether you experience menopause with ease or face challenges, it's a natural biological process that every woman goes through. (1)
When Can I Expect to Start Menopause?
Generally, you'll start menopause in your 40s or 50s, but it can begin either before or after and can be brought on naturally or due to medical conditions. (2)
Can Hormone Therapy Help Relieve The 34 Symptoms of Menopause?
For many women going through menopause, hormone replacement therapy is a lifesaver. It works by replacing the hormones your body stops producing as you reach your forties and fifties, specifically estrogen and progesterone, which leads to a variety of life-altering and uncomfortable symptoms.
You may be a candidate for hormone replacement therapy if you are free from any significant risk factors and are seeing any one of the following symptoms.
- Experiencing hot flashes and night sweats that are severe.
- Have vaginal dryness, itching, pain or burning during intercourse.
- Experience urinary urgency.
- Are at risk of developing osteoporosis.
Because hormone therapy mimics what your ovaries make naturally, it's very effective in reducing and eliminating the symptoms of menopause so that you can enjoy quality of life without the disturbing symptoms of menopause.
Why Are There 34 Menopause Symptoms?
Our bodies go through so many changes as we move through the stages of life, and menopause is no different. As we reach our 40s, our reproductive hormones slow and bring on several seemingly unrelated symptoms.
As the primary sex hormone in women, estrogen isn't just responsible for the reproductive system; it affects many organs and functions that keep us fit and healthy, such as the heart, brain, bones, skin, hair and many others. When menopause begins, the ovaries produce less estrogen, causing the body to feel the effects in various ways.
The Definitive List - 34 Symptoms of Menopause
To better prepare ourselves for what to expect, these are the 34 symptoms that can occur during menopause. (3)(4)
Hot flashes.
Hot flashes are one of the most uncomfortable of the 34 symptoms of menopause you can experience. Marked by the sudden onset of heat within the body, you become sweaty and flushed in the face, neck and chest. After the hot flash, you may get the chills as your body returns to its normal temperature.
Night Sweats
Night sweats occur when you're sleeping and, depending on the severity, can soak your sleepwear and sheets. They can be responsible for sleep disturbances and be uncomfortable to deal with.
Sleep Issues
While trouble sleeping can occur due to many things, during menopause, hormonal changes and night sweats can also wake you at night and lead to difficulty getting back to sleep. Sleep patterns may become irregular and interfere with a good night's rest.
Irregular periods
As you transition from perimenopause into menopause, periods can become irregular. You may experience heavier periods some months and then none at all. Periods generally stop altogether once you're in menopause. Of all the 34 symptoms of menopause, this one is pretty much guaranteed.
Fatigue
While disturbances in sleep and night sweats can derail quality sleep, hormonal changes and other symptoms can be exhausting, resulting in feeling tired all the time.
Mood changes
Mood changes are common as you move into menopause. You can feel happy one minute and sad and crying the next. Changes in mood don't need to be related to any event or situation, which is why they can be a bit unnerving.
Decreased sex drive
Losing interest in sex is one of the most common 34 symptoms of menopause. It may be due to lower estrogen and testosterone levels in the body, making it difficult to become aroused. Estrogen and testosterone are vital hormones affecting sexual desire and function in women, and they decline during menopause. This hormonal shift contributes to reduced libido and sexual satisfaction.
Testosterone therapy, in particular, restores hormonal balance and often leads to improved sex drive and enhanced sexual function. Notably, a specific study found that women undergoing Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) reported a substantial 44% increase in sexual interest compared to a placebo group.
Vaginal Dryness
As hormones change, lower circulation and less blood flow to sex organs can interfere with the lubrication needed for enjoyable sexual intercourse, making it painful. One of the more common of the 34 symptoms of menopause, vaginal dryness, can be alleviated with HRT.
Breast tenderness
Breasts can become sore as the hormonal changes occur, making them uncomfortable to the touch. Soreness may not be an issue for some women, but if it is, it typically diminishes over time.
Headaches and migraines
Much like the headaches experienced before a period, the hormonal changes and dips in estrogen that occur during menopause can cause more frequent bouts. Estrogen and progesterone can ease headaches and many other of the 34 symptoms of menopause.
Digestive problems
During menopause, hormones can stimulate a change in gut health, resulting in digestive problems and adverse reactions to certain foods.
Bloating
Frequent bloating can occur along with digestive issues due to slow digestion, excess gas, water retention, a change in eating habits and stress.
Change in taste
Some women can experience a shift in their taste buds and may experience dry mouth that can lead to dental issues.
Mouth burning sensation
Due to the hormonal changes during menopause, a sensation of tingling, tenderness, and burning may occur in and around the mouth area and cause discomfort or pain.
Weight gain
Gaining weight is another issue that can occur during menopause. It can occur due to a drop in estrogen, lack of exercise, mood swings and energy and dietary changes.
Tingling of the hands and feet
Hormone fluctuations that affect the central nervous system can cause tingling in the hands, feet, arms and legs for short periods.
Joint pain
Estrogen regulates fluid levels in the body, which helps lubricate the joints and decrease inflammation. A drop in estrogen can decrease lubrication, causing joint pain and menopausal arthritis.
Muscle aches
Due to lower estrogen levels and less lubrication for the joints, women can experience more muscle aches and painful joints.
Itchiness
Since estrogen is connected to the production of collagen and skin hydration, when estrogen levels drop, it can cause skin dryness and itching around the vaginal area and throughout the body.
Body odor
Between the hormonal changes, stress, hot flashes and night sweats, your body's temperature is entirely out of whack, which can cause body odor.
Incontinence due to stress
Due to a weakened bladder or pelvic muscle, some women experience what's known as stress incontinence or overactive bladder, which is a frequent or sudden urge to urinate.
Allergies
Experiencing new or more severe allergies is common for many women during menopause due to spikes in histamine levels, the chemical responsible for producing allergic reactions. This is one of the more annoying symptoms of menopause, but antihistamines can be a real help.
Thinning hair
Hormonal fluctuations during menopause can cause hair follicles to shrink, making it challenging for new hair growth and potentially causing hair loss.
Weak, brittle nails
Due to hormonal changes during menopause, the body may be unable to produce enough Keratin, which makes nails strong, resulting in dry, weakening and brittle nails.
Dizziness
The hormonal changes during menopause can affect insulin production, making it hard for the body to maintain stable blood sugar levels, leading to dizziness for some women.
Trouble concentrating
Dips in estrogen can cause brain fog or trouble concentrating, which can be exacerbated by sleepless nights due to night sweats and hot flashes.
Memory issues
Trouble remembering things, including memory issues, can be a result of fluctuating hormones during menopause. These memory problems may be made worse by a lack of sleep, stress, and other symptoms of menopause. Additionally, addressing these cognitive challenges with HRT also plays a role in potentially preventing age-related medical conditions, including Alzheimer's disease.
Electric shock sensations
While this is an unusual symptom, some women may experience sensations that feel like an electric shock during menopause. While it's unclear why, it may be due to changing hormones in the nervous system.
Irritability
The possible impact of other symptoms of menopause include changing hormone levels, stress and sleep problems, which often make women feel more irritable.
Osteoporosis
A decline in estrogen levels can cause bone loss, increasing your risk of developing osteoporosis, which can cause bones to become fragile, weak and break more easily. Be extra vigilant if you have a family history of this condition. HRT is proven to help reduce risk and potentially increase bone density.
Irregular heartbeat
Some women may experience irregular heartbeat, which can be due to stress, other symptoms of menopause, or other health problems, so it's essential to discuss them with your medical practitioner.
Depression
Menopause can signal a change of life that some women can find challenging to accept. This change commonly causes depression that may not be long-term. Stress, sleeplessness and many of the other 34 symptoms of menopause can also contribute to feeling depressed. Fortunately, treatments like Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), including progesterone, can provide substantial relief. Our trained providers can offer valuable insights on how progesterone and other therapies can help with mood changes.
Anxiety
Anxiety and other mood-related symptoms are relatively common symptoms of menopause for women. The hormone fluctuation can worsen anxiety, but feelings may lift as hormone levels regulate.
Panic disorder
Some women may experience panic attacks during menopause, which can occur unexpectedly. They can occur due to stress and anxiety, fatigue or changes in hormone levels.
Conclusion
While this list is extensive, we don't want you to fear the symptoms. All stages of menopause are a highly individual journey for each woman. Not all women will encounter all of the 34 common symptoms of menopause, and certainly not all at once. Some may experience more or fewer than others, and some hardly at all. The point is they are manageable and nothing to fear.
Yes, irregular periods, hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and other symptoms can be annoying. But with HRT, other prescribed medications, or simple lifestyle adjustments, many of these symptoms can be effectively managed.
Fortunately, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) from Fem Excel offers an effective solution to alleviate these symptoms and serves as a proactive measure in preventing some age-related health conditions, contributing to enhanced well-being and health. Notably, if you have any concerns about menopause and HRT, talk to your doctor or give us a call.
