Menopause Symptoms

“Symptoms of menopause generally include hot flushes, vaginal changes and mood swings. There are other physical and emotional symptoms of menopause, but…”.¹

Umbrella
What may the Menopause Symptoms Umbrella include?

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

Cause

What causes menopause symptoms?

In Menopause Management: Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) – What Is MHT? the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) elaborate on:

“The three hormones of particular relevance at menopause are oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Menopausal symptoms are created by changes in the levels of the oestrogen hormones”.²

Common or Not

How many women have menopause symptoms?

In Symptoms of Menopause: What Are the Symptoms of Menopause? the JH elaborate on:

Severe Symptoms

How many women have severe menopause symptoms?

The International Menopause Society (IMS) explain:

“Not everyone finds the symptoms bothersome but about 60% of women will have mild symptoms for around 5 – 8 years. 20% of women will have no symptoms at all while another 20% will be severely affected, with symptoms continuing into their 60s or later”.⁴

First Sign

What is usually the first sign of menopause?

According to the (United Kingdom) NHS (National Health Service):

“The first sign of the menopause is usually a change in the normal pattern of your periods”.⁵

Symptoms

What are common menopause symptoms?

On page two in Maintaining Health and Preventing Disease After the Menopause the IMS note:

“Common symptoms of the menopause transition include:

• Irregular periods, which may be heavy
• Hot flushes (hot flashes)
• Night sweats
• Trouble sleeping
• Aches and pains
• Racing heartbeat
• Increased need to go to the toilet
• Mood changes, such as irritability or feeling low
• Trouble concentrating”.⁶

In Menopause: Symptoms – Common Menopausal Symptoms the NHS elaborate on:

In Menopause: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms the (United States) Mayo Clinic explain:

Most Common

What are the most common menopause symptoms?

In How Do I Know I’m In Menopause? The Bottom Line the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) elaborate on:

“The most common symptoms women in their 40s notice are changes in periods and the onset of hot flashes”.⁹

In Menopause: Symptoms – Common Menopausal Symptoms the NHS elaborate on:

“About 8 in every 10 women will have additional symptoms for some time before and after their periods stop”.¹⁰

In Symptoms of Menopause the JH elaborate on:

“Symptoms of menopause generally include hot flushes, vaginal changes and mood swings. There are other physical and emotional symptoms of menopause, but no two women will experience menopause in the same way”.¹¹

Difference Differences

Are menopause symptoms one-size-fits-all?

No. In Menopause FAQS: Menopause Symptoms – Q. What symptoms might I expect as I approach menopause? the NAMS explain:

“A. Each woman’s menopause experience is different. Many women who undergo natural menopause report no symptoms at all during the perimenopausal years except for irregular menstrual periods that eventually stop once they reach menopause. Other symptoms may include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, difficulty sleeping, memory problems, mood disturbances, and vaginal dryness. Not all these symptoms are hormone related, and some, such as hot flashes and memory problems, tend to resolve after menopause. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle during this time of transition is essential for your health and can even prevent or alleviate some of these symptoms”.¹²

Duration

How many years may menopause symptoms continue?

The JH note:

The Australasian Menopause Society (AMS) explain:

Sudden Menopause

Is there an association between sudden menopause and menopause symptoms?

Yes. The NHS note:

“If you experience the menopause suddenly rather than gradually – for example, as a result of cancer treatment – your symptoms may be worse”.¹⁵

Factors

What factors impact on menopause symptoms?

The JH explain:

“Culture, general level of health and wellbeing, previous experience of mood problems, lifestyle and whether you have had a natural, surgical or chemotherapy-induced menopause will affect your menopausal symptoms”.¹⁶

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 AMS elaborate on:

“Depression, anaemia and hypothyroidism are the most common conditions that may mimic menopausal symptoms or indeed occur concurrently. Unstable diabetes may cause hot flushes. Medication, such as the SSRI family of anti-depressants, may also cause hot flushes”.¹⁷

Attitude

Is there an association between attitude and menopause symptoms?

In Make Your Menopause A Positive Experience the author elaborates on:

“The attitude with which you embark upon this transition can have a tremendous impact on your experience of it, as well as on your choice of behaviors. Studies bear this out: negative beliefs held prior to menopause can be predictive of a more difficult time. For instance, the more catastrophic your thoughts about hot flashes, the more intense they will be”.¹⁸

Lifestyle

Is there an association between lifestyle and menopause symptoms?

Yes. In Menopause Management: Healthy Living – Lifestyle & Symptoms of Menopause the JH explain:

“Coping with menopausal symptoms can be helped by a balanced and nutritious diet, exercise and relaxation. Women who try to make their lifestyle as healthy as they can appear to have fewer menopausal symptoms, and those symptoms are less severe”.¹⁹

Lifestyle Tips

What are some lifestyle tips which may relieve menopause symptoms?

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

Hormone Therapy

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

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits the NAMS explain:

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.

On page two in Menopause: What Can You Do To Help With the Menopause? the JH elaborate on:

On page two in Menopause the JH also note:

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

“Before deciding on any form of treatment, talk with your doctor about your options and the risks and benefits involved with each. Review your options yearly, as your needs and treatment options may change”.²⁴

In Menopause: Overview – When To See A GP the NHS elaborate on:

“It’s worth talking to a GP if you have menopausal symptoms that are troubling you or if you’re experiencing symptoms of the menopause before 45 years of age”.²⁵

Who is a GP?

DotS and/or DotC (Depending on the Country) a GP may be a qualified and registered general practitioner, a medical practitioner, a medical doctor or a doctor.

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Menopause Symptoms?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Links

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Links

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1. 9 Myths and Misunderstandings About Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT): 6. Myth – Complementary Medicines and Therapies Are As Effective As MHT and Safer
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76. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopause
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80. NonHormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
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84. Video Series-2018 – Nonhormone Prescription Options for Hot Flashes
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91. What Is Menopause?
92. Will Menopause Affect My Sex Life? [+ Video]
93. Women’s Wellness: Menopause Misconceptions [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
94. Women’s Wellness: Mindfulness May Ease Menopausal Symptoms
95. Women’s Wellness: Treating Hot Flashes and Night Sweats Without Hormones [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
96. World Menopause Day: World Menopause Day 2017 – Patient Information Leaflet: Changes Before the Change [Perimenopausal Bleeding] [Multiply Languages]
97. World Menopause Day: World Menopause Day 2018 – Patient Information Leaflet: Sexual Wellbeing After Menopause [Multiply Languages]
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Sources

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Topic Last Updated: 08 October 2019 – Topic Last Reviewed: 04 September 2019