Menopause Symptoms

Menopause Symptoms

“It is estimated that menopausal symptoms
affect more than 75% of women,
with over 25% of women describing severe symptoms”.1

Umbrella

What may the Menopause Symptoms Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Climacteric Changes/Signs/Symptoms
  • Menopausal/Menopause Changes/Signs/Symptoms
  • Menopause Transition Changes/Signs/Symptoms
  • Menopause-Related Changes/Signs/Symptoms
  • Perimenopausal/Perimenopause Changes/Signs/Symptoms

Cause

What causes menopause symptoms?

In Menopause: What Is Perimenopause? the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) note:

“During perimenopause, the hormones produced in your ovaries change. This causes your periods to change and, for some women, menopausal symptoms to start”.2

Common or Not

How common are menopause symptoms?

On page one in Optimising the Menopause Transition: Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause one of the recommendations is:

“It is estimated that menopausal symptoms affect more than 75% of women, with over 25% of women describing severe symptoms”.3

First Sign

What is usually the first sign of menopause?

According to the (United Kingdom) NHS:

“One of the first signs of perimenopause is usually a change to your periods. They may happen more often or less often, and bleeding may get heavier or lighter. Eventually, you stop having periods altogether”.4

Symptoms

What are some symptoms of menopause?

In Menopause: Symptoms and Causes – What Are the Signs of Menopause? the (United States) Cleveland Clinic explain:

“You may be transitioning into menopause if you begin experiencing some or all of the following symptoms:

  • Irregular periods or periods that are heavier or lighter than usual
  • Menopause SymptomsHot flashes, also known as vasomotor symptoms (a sudden feeling of warmth that spreads over your body)
  • Night sweats and/or cold flashes
  • Vaginal dryness that causes discomfort during sex
  • Urinary urgency (a pressing need to pee more frequently)
  • Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
  • Emotional changes (irritability, mood swings or depression)
  • Dry skin, dry eyes or dry mouth
  • Worsening premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
  • Breast tenderness

Some people might also experience:

  • Racing heart
  • Headaches
  • Joint and muscle aches and pains
  • Changes in libido (sex drive)
  • Difficulty concentrating or memory lapses (often temporary)
  • Weight gain
  • Hair loss or thinning”.5

Duration

How long can menopause symptoms last?

The Cleveland Clinic note:

“You can have symptoms of menopause for up to 10 years before it officially occurs. The average length of menopause symptoms is about seven years. Most women say their symptoms ease up or disappear completely once they reach postmenopause”.6

Conditions

What are the most common conditions that may mimic menopause symptoms?

Yes. In Diagnosing Menopause: If It’s Not Menopause, What Is It? the Australasian Menopause Society elaborate on:

“Depression, anaemia and thyroid disorders are the most common conditions that may occur concurrently. Unstable diabetes and hyperthyroidism may cause hot flushes. Medication, such as the SSRI family of anti-depressants, may also cause hot flushes”.7

Lifestyle

Is there an association between lifestyle and menopause symptoms?

Yes. In Looking After Yourself Around the Time of Menopause: Key Takeaways the JH elaborate on:

“Healthy lifestyle changes, like regular exercise, a balanced diet and good sleep routines, can ease menopausal symptoms and improve health after menopause”.8

Lifestyle Tips

What are some lifestyle tips which may relieve menopause symptoms?

In Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Lifestyle and Home Remedies the (United States) Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“Many of the symptoms menopause causes go away on their own in time. In the meantime, the following might help:

  • Cool hot flashes…
  • Ease vaginal pain…
  • Get enough sleep…
  • Find ways to relax…
  • Strengthen your pelvic floor…
  • Eat a balanced diet…
  • Manage weight
  • Don’t smoke…
  • Exercise regularly…”.9

Hormone Therapy

How effective is hormone therapy (HT) for the treatment of menopause symptoms?

On page one in The Menopause Society Statement on Misinformation Surrounding Hormone Therapy: Indications for the Use of Hormone Therapy, published October 2024, the Menopause Society (formerly the North American Menopause Society) note:

“Hormone therapy remains first-line therapy for management of bothersome vasomotor symptoms, and the benefits typically outweigh the risks for most healthy women when initiated younger than age 60 years or within 10 years of menopause onset with appropriate counseling.

Hormone therapy is indicated for the treatment of bothersome vasomotor symptoms,
genitourinary syndrome of menopause, primary ovarian insufficiency, and prevention of bone loss and reduction of fracture risk”.10 

Health Care Provider

What if I would like help with menopause symptoms?

If you would like help with menopause symptoms, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

In Menopause: How Do You Know If You’ve Reached Menopause? When To Talk To Your Doctor the JH also note:

“Talk to your doctor if:

  • You are younger than 45 and your periods are irregular or have stopped
  • You have symptoms that are interfering with your daily activities, including exercise and work
  • You have symptoms that are affecting your mental health or your relationships
  • You have not had a menstrual period for 12 months, and you then have a period or bleeding from the vagina”.11

In Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment the Mayo Clinic explain:

“Before deciding on any form of treatment, talk with your healthcare professional about your choices and the risks and benefits of each. Review your choices yearly. Your needs and the treatment choices may change”.12

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Menopause Symptoms?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Menopause Symptoms?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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New or Updated

  1. 3 Menopause Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore
  2. 9 Less Common Perimenopause Symptoms and How To Manage Them
  3. A Man’s Guide To Menopause
  4. ACOG Explains: Managing Menopause Symptoms [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists]
  5. AMS Symptom Score Card
  6. Abdominal Obesity May Lead To More Severe Menopause Symptoms
  7. Addressing Menopause Symptoms
  8. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  9. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  10. Celebrating 8 Years! Ask Dr Louise Newson Anything | Live Q&A
  11. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Menopausal Symptoms
  12. Complementary & Alternative Therapies: Non-Hormonal Treatments for Menopause Symptoms
  13. Complementary Medicines and Therapies for Hot Flushes
  14. Complementary Medicines and Therapies: Options for Menopausal Symptoms
    Menopause Symptoms
  15. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Menopause
  16. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Healthcare Visit
  17. Could It Be Perimenopause? How Hormones Influence the Brain
  18. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  19. Does Having Hot Flashes Mean I’ve Started Menopause?
  20. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM): Diagnosis and Evidence-Based Management
  21. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Menopause and Mental Health: Managing Anxiety, Depression, and Cognitive Changes
  22. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Sleep Disturbances In Menopause
  23. Emotional and Cognitive Symptoms Are Redefining Perimenopause Recognition
  24. FDA Grand Rounds: FDA Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) Labeling: Historical Context & Recent Changes
  25. Find A Member [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  26. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  27. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  28. First Symptoms of Menopause
  29. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
  30. Guidelines and Education: EMAS Menopause Essentials [60 Fact Sheets Updated By the European Menopause and Andropause Society]
  31. HRT Questions Answered
  32. HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
  33. Handling Hot Flushes and Night Sweats| Dr Louise Newson
  34. Healthy Menopause: EMAS 2026 Framework for Precision, Digital, and Interdisciplinary Midlife Health
  35. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Benefits and Risks
  36. Hormone Therapy for Menopause
  37. Hot Flashes
  38. How To Manage Menopausal Insomnia
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  40. How To Talk To Your Doctor About Midlife Brain Fog
  41. How Vaginal Hormones Can Transform the Health of Women
  42. International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause
  43. Is Menopause The Cause Of Your Musculoskeletal Pain?
  44. Join the Dots: A-Z Symptoms List [34+ Symptoms]
  45. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms of Menopause [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
  46. Managing Menopause Symptoms [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  47. Menopausal Symptom Treatments
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  52. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  53. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
    Menopause Symptoms
  54. Menopause Symptoms That May Surprise You
  55. Menopause Symptoms That May Surprise You: What To Watch for During Perimenopause
  56. Menopause [Multiply Languages]
  57. Menopause and Mental Health
  58. Menopause: How To Talk To Your Doctor
  59. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
  60. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
  61. Menopause: Symptoms & Causes
  62. Menopause: Your Choice of Language
  63. Monitoring Menopause Symptoms
  64. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  65. My Periods Have Changed. Is Menopause Around the Corner?
  66. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  67. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  68. Navigating Menopause Care Resource Guide
  69. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
  70. Navigating Menopause: Sex, Relationships and Well-Being
  71. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: IMS Partnership Symposia Series – It Is Not Just Incontinence – Common Bladder Problems Around Menopause
  72. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: IMS Partnership Symposia Series – What Is Sleep, What Is Menopause and How Do They Interact?
  73. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2025: Lifestyle Medicine
  74. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars –2025: The Burn, the Itch, the Pain, the Urge: GSM In Women
  75. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations: Evidence-Based Management of Vasomotor Symptoms
  76. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations – Lifestyle, Diet, Exercise
  77. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations – Midlife Body Changes
  78. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Sponsored Symposia – Weight, Wellness, and Women At Midlife: Rethinking Obesity In the Menopause Transition
  79. Perimenopause
  80. Perimenopause
  81. Perimenopause and Menopause Checklist: Translated Checklists
  82. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
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  84. Study: Perimenopausal Symptoms Are More Severe, Begin Earlier In Women With ADHD
  85. Surprising Menopause Symptoms | Dr Louise Newson Live
  86. Surprising Menopause Symptoms Q&A | Dr Louise Newson
  87. Symptoms
  88. Talk About Heavy Periods
  89. Talk About Painful Sex
  90. Testosterone Use In Menopausal Women
  91. The Menopause Society Show: Menopause & Sexual Desire
  92. The Menopause Society Show: Menopause & Weight Gain
  93. The Surprising Symptoms of Changing Hormones: Live Q&A
  94. Things You Can Do To Help Perimenopause and Menopause Symptoms
  95. What Are the 34 Symptoms of Menopause and What Helps?
  96. When Does Perimenopause Start and How Do You Define the Beginning
  97. Why is Bleeding so Heavy?
  98. World Menopause Day 2025
    Menopause Symptoms Menopause Symptoms
  99. Your Daily Dose: Let’s Unpack Menopause
  100. Your Daily Dose: Perimenopause, Don’t Suffer In Silence

Source

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. Optimising the Menopause Transition: Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause. First Published Online 10 June 2022:1 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20533691221104882 Accessed: 12 October 2026
  2. Menopause: What Is Perimenopause? Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/ Accessed: 12 October 2026
  3. Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. Optimising the Menopause Transition: Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause. First Published Online 10 June 2022:1 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20533691221104882 Accessed: 12 October 2026
  4. Symptoms of Menopause and Perimenopause: Changes To Your Periods. Page Last Reviewed: 19 May 2026. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/symptoms/#changes-to-your-periods Accessed: 12 October 2026
  5. Menopause: Symptoms and Causes – What Are the Signs of Menopause? Last Updated: 24 June 2024. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21841-menopause Accessed: 12 October 2026
  6. Menopause: Symptoms and Causes – What Are the Signs of Menopause? Last Updated: 24 June 2024. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21841-menopause Accessed: 12 October 2026
  7. Diagnosing Menopause: If It’s Not Menopause, What Is It? Content Created 23 May 2022. Australasian Menopause Society https://hub.menopause.org.au/Play?pId=f769710e-20f5-4bcf-886a-1fa27d97254e Accessed: 12 October 2026
  8. Looking After Yourself Around the Time of Menopause: Key Takeaways. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/looking-after-yourself Accessed: 12 October 2026
  9. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Lifestyle and Home Remedies. 09 July 2026. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353401 Accessed: 12 October 2026
  10. The Menopause Society Statement on Misinformation Surrounding Hormone Therapy: Indications for the Use of Hormone Therapy. 2024:1. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TMS-statement-on-HT-Misinformation.pdf Accessed: 12 October 2026
  11. Menopause: How Do You Know If You’ve Reached Menopause? When To See Your Doctor https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/#when-to-see-your-doctor Accessed: 12 October 2026
  12. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 09 July 2026. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353401 Accessed: 12 October 2026
Topic Last Updated: 12 October 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 12 October 2026

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