31 Most Common Menopause Symptoms

Menopause is something that many people experience at some point. Natural menopause can occur between ages 35 and 60, depending on the person. More research is needed to determine why menopause can occur at almost any time during such a broad age range. However, some factors can cause early onset of natural menopause. If you are in your mid to late 30s or older and have any of these symptoms, you may be starting the process of menopause.

1. Hot Flashes

Hot flashes are the most common symptom of menopause, occurring in 74 percent of surveyed participants. A hot flash is when a wave of heat or warmth floods over the body. It creates redness in the skin. Hot flashes are the body's chief reaction to lowered estrogen.

2. Weight Gain

Hormone changes can influence weight gain and redistribution of fat. While you may not experience significant weight gain, you may notice that your weight redistributes itself to settle more around your waist and less in other areas.

3. Night Sweats

Night sweats are similar to hot flashes but occur during sleeping. The body is flushed with heat, causing extreme sweating while sleeping. This can cause disruption of sleep, which may be one reason why tiredness and fatigue are so common among menopausal adults. You'll likely know if you have night sweats because you can wake up to soaked sheets.

4. Tiredness

Tiredness and fatigue are pretty common among menopausal adults. Part of this could be due to insomnia and night sweats that many people experience. However, hormonal changes could also be a factor in causing fatigue. You may find it difficult to get moving in the morning or get tired quickly during physical activity.

5. Insomnia

Insomnia is a common menopause symptom. Hormonal changes in the body cause changes to dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain, which can lead to an inability to sleep. This is one reason for fatigue, and night sweats also contribute to it.

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6. Irritability

Hormonal changes, fatigue, and a combination of other symptoms will likely make you irritable during menopause. You may find that you are quick to snap at people when they bother you or interrupt you during a task. You may also find that you get more easily frustrated while trying to perform tasks.

7. Depression

Many people experience depression during menopause. Depression can occur for many reasons, but a hormonal imbalance often plays a role. More often, the combination of the hormone changes and the other symptoms of menopause leads to a depressive state. Many people going through menopause are on antidepressants.

8. Irregular Periods

One of the first menopause symptoms you will notice is irregular periods. Your periods may become irregular before you notice any other symptoms of menopause. Irregularity can widely vary from woman to woman and can last for several months or years before other symptoms occur.

Many people assume that irregular periods from menopause will be further apart, but this is not always the case. In many cases, periods become closer together first and then further apart, becoming nearly impossible to predict. You could go two weeks between cycles, then six weeks before the one after that. Any irregularity in periods can be a symptom of menopause.

9. Loss of Sex Drive

The decrease in estrogen from menopause can often cause a loss of sex drive or libido. Many adults who are going through menopause do not feel their best. They may feel they are not as sexually attractive, which can lead to not wanting to have sex after menopause. Also, the lack of estrogen can take away sex drive.

10. Vaginal Dryness

Vaginal dryness is another symptom of menopause that can contribute to a lower sex drive. As estrogen levels decrease, the vagina can become very dry. This can cause sex to be very uncomfortable, leading some people not to want to engage in the activity. Vaginal dryness can also lead to a pH imbalance which can cause yeast infections.

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11. Hair Loss

Some people experience hair loss or thinning of their hair during menopause. This symptom is less common or may not be as immediately noticeable. It may occur slowly over time and only be observable once the significant loss has already happened. Some researchers speculate that hair loss and thinning are coincidental and common among older women.

12. Difficulty Concentrating

Many people have difficulty concentrating during menopause. The lack of concentration has as much to do with distracting symptoms as it does with hormonal changes. You may have trouble focusing on complex tasks. Multi-tasking may become completely impossible. You may also have difficulty remaining engaged in reading or watching movies or television.

13. Memory Loss

Short-term memory loss or memory lapses are also common menopause symptoms. Part of this could be because of a lack of sleep. Fatigue and other symptoms combined with hormone changes could cause you to become more forgetful. Usually, these memory lapses are temporary, and you can eventually remember what you were trying to recall.

14. Dizziness

Some more serious medical conditions can cause dizziness, so it is essential to get checked out by a doctor if you have frequent dizzy spells. However, dizziness can occur as a result of lowered estrogen. You may get a spinning sensation when you have dizzy spells, feel lightheaded, or lose your balance. Dizziness can lead to falls, so it is important to tackle this symptom as soon as it presents itself.

15. Incontinence

Three types of incontinence are common in menopausal adults. The first is stress incontinence, which occurs when the bladder leaks when laughing or coughing. The second is urge incontinence, where the bladder gives almost no warning of being full and cannot be held, despite your best efforts. The third type of incontinence is overflow, in which the bladder empties without giving the signal that it is full.

You may experience one or all three of these types of incontinence when you go through menopause. It is unclear, however, whether this is a symptom of menopause or if it is simply coincidental that many adults have incontinence during this age range.

16. Bloating

Bloating can occur during menopause for many different reasons. It could be a side effect of digestive issues as the hormone changes cause fluctuations in how food digests. It could also be related to irregular periods or hormone changes in general. Bloating could last for hours or days and usually presents as fullness in the belly that can sometimes be painful.

17. Allergies

Because hormones and the immune system are linked, changes in hormones can sometimes lead to the development of allergies. You may discover that you are allergic to things you never had a problem with. Lactose allergies are common, as are hay fever and other seasonal allergies. Unfortunately, these new allergies are often not temporary and will stick around long after your body adjusts to the new hormone levels.

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18. Brittle Nails

Low estrogen levels can lead to dehydration, which may cause brittle nails. Brittle nails could also be a sign of nutritional deficiency, so if you notice this symptom, you should check with your doctor to ensure there isn't another underlying cause. You can usually overcome brittle nails with nutritional supplements or treatments for the nail and by staying hydrated.

19. Body Odor Changes

The hormone changes your body goes through during menopause can cause you to sweat much more profusely than ever. Also, the changes in hormones themselves can cause changes in body odor. This menopause symptom can be embarrassing, but the easiest way to overcome it is to add extra showers and use scented lotions and deodorant sprays.

20. Irregular Heartbeat

Lower estrogen levels can cause overstimulation of the nervous and circulatory systems. This can lead to heart palpitations or a sudden intense beating of the heart that is difficult to calm and is one of the scarier symptoms of menopause. Because an irregular heartbeat could have many cardiac causes, you must discuss this symptom with a doctor if it occurs.

21. Anxiety

Serotonin and dopamine are affected by dropped estrogen levels, and these mood-stabilizing neurotransmitters can be responsible for high anxiety. Anxiety can present as a feeling of impending doom for little or no cause. In extreme cases, it can lead to panic attacks which can be debilitating and painful. Some women feel mild anxiety, as well, simply due to the other symptoms they are experiencing and the fact that they are getting older.

22. Breast Pain

You may experience breast pain, tenderness, or soreness due to the hormonal changes of menopause. This menopause symptom usually presents as tenderness or pain when the breasts are touched or stimulated. It can cause problems with libido, and it can also cause extreme discomfort when wearing a bra.

Source: health.mil

It is important to note that breast pain and tenderness can also signify a more serious condition. If breast pain worsens, you should see a doctor. You should also be doing monthly self-examinations on your breasts and immediately report any lumps or discharge to your doctor.

23. Headaches

Headaches during menopause are most frequent in adults who frequently have headaches accompanying their periods. When you get headaches due to hormone changes in the body, they can be challenging to treat. While headaches are pretty common as a menopause symptom, any severe headaches that prevent you from fully functioning or last more than two days should be reported to your doctor.

24. Joint Pain

About half of women experience joint pain as a menopause symptom. Joint pain is a soreness in the joints, usually after exertion or exercise, but sometimes with prolonged sitting. Joint pain can be a symptom of arthritis or other medical conditions common among menopausal women, so this is another symptom you'll want to report to your doctor if it persists or makes it difficult for you to move.

25. Burning Mouth Syndrome

Burning mouth syndrome is a less frequent symptom of menopause. It is thought that lower estrogen leads to the destruction of the bitter taste buds, which then sets off pain in the surrounding tissue. When you have burning mouth syndrome, you may experience a burning sensation or pain in your mouth, tongue, or gums.

26. The Sensation Of Electric Shocks

The feeling of light electric shocks can sometimes occur during menopause. It is believed that this is due to the lower estrogen levels wreaking havoc on the nervous system. It may feel like a static shock and can occur anywhere on the body. It usually lasts just a brief moment but can be quite unpleasant. Many people report electric shocks across the forehead just before a hot flash.

27. Digestive Issues

Changes in estrogen levels can disrupt the natural transit of food in the stomach and intestines, which can lead to some digestive issues. You may experience bloating, increased gas, cramping, or nausea. Typically, these symptoms do not last long and only occur when eating certain foods. If you have stomach pain or increased gas lasting more than two days, you should see a doctor to ensure there isn't another underlying cause.

28. Gum Problems

Gingivitis and bleeding gums are common among menopausal women. While this could result from aging or poor dental hygiene, it may be linked to lowered estrogen production. You must address gum issues with your dentist or doctor as quickly as possible. Left unchecked, it could lead to serious dental issues and infections.

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29. Muscle Tension

Muscle tension, particularly in the neck and shoulders, is a common symptom of menopause. Lowered estrogen levels result in increased cortisol production. Cortisol is also sometimes called the stress hormone. Increased cortisol can lead to muscle tension, particularly in the neck and shoulders, but it could occur anywhere in the body.

30. Itchy Skin

Itchy skin that feels like something is crawling on you is another symptom of menopause. The lower estrogen levels in your body also lower the collagen in your skin. This can lead to thinner and dryer skin, leading to an itchy or crawling feeling. Making sure you keep your skin moisturized is very important during menopause.

31. Tingling In Limbs

You may experience tingling or a feeling of something crawling on you, particularly on your arms, legs, fingers, or toes. The effects of a lack of estrogen on the nervous system cause this. The feeling could be akin to when your foot or hand "falls asleep." However, there can be many other more serious causes of this tingling sensation, so you should report it to your doctor immediately.

When To Get Help

Most menopause symptoms are mild at first and worsen as estrogen levels decrease. You may want to seek help to treat your menopausal symptoms by talking to your doctor if your symptoms are severe.

If you’re experiencing complicated emotions or difficult symptoms due to menopause, online therapy can help. Unlike traditional therapy, you can participate in treatment from the comfort of your home—via messaging, voice call, videoconferencing, or live chat. The mental health professionals at BetterHelp know how to help you during a large life change.

Research shows that online therapy can be a valuable resource for people who are going through menopause. For example, in one study, researchers found that online cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) was helpful in treating various menopausal symptoms. Participants reported decreased severity and frequency of hot flashes and night sweats, an increase in sleep quality, and an improvement in overall menopausal symptoms. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a widely accepted treatment that helps individuals replace the negative thought patterns that may exacerbate already difficult situations (e.g., decreased sexual functioning and increased stress levels due to menopause).

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Takeaway

As you move through this transitional period, a mental health professional can help you manage symptoms of depression and anxiety and help you work through the emotional ramifications of going through this significant life change. Take the first step today.