The 34 Symptoms of Menopause & Perimenopause
Understanding what you're experiencing is the first step to managing it. You're not going mad - these symptoms are real, and there is help available.
“My experience with the menopause began long before I even knew it was menopause. I didn't know the menopause could cause the things I was feeling... I honestly thought I was going mad.”
Most Common Symptoms
Hot Flushes
The most well-known symptom, affecting 50-85% of menopausal women. Some women experience hot then cold flushes, while others have only cold flushes.
Irregular Periods
Often a sign of entering perimenopause as oestrogen and progesterone become unbalanced. Cycles may come earlier or later, with heavier or lighter flow.
Fatigue
A sluggish, tired-all-the-time feeling that can affect quality of life, strain relationships, diminish productivity, and increase stress.
Memory Lapses
Brain fog is common during perimenopause and menopause. Both oestrogen and progesterone play a role in memory. This is usually temporary.
Night Sweats
Excessive sweating during the night, disrupting sleep and causing daytime stress and anxiety. Like hot flushes, caused by hormonal imbalance.
Changes in Libido
Sexual desire may decrease due to vaginal dryness, hormonal fluctuations, or mood changes. However, some women find their libido increases.
Vaginal Dryness
Declining oestrogen levels cause natural vaginal moisture to diminish, which can make intimacy uncomfortable or painful.
Mood Swings
Fluctuating hormones impact neurotransmitters like GABA and serotonin, leading to erratic mood changes from anger to sadness to happiness.
Sleep Disorders
Insomnia, sleep-disordered breathing, and anxiety can occur during menopause, either directly from hormonal changes or from other symptoms.
Weight Gain
Hormonal changes make it difficult to lose weight and can diminish muscle mass. Fat often redistributes to the abdomen.
Insomnia
Beyond other sleep disruptions, falling oestrogen and progesterone (both sleep-promoting hormones) can cause general insomnia.
Difficulty Concentrating
Inability to focus, generally most noticeable in early hormonal decline. Can be worsened by poor sleep or mood swings.
Physical Symptoms
Urinary Tract Infections
Low oestrogen levels can change vaginal and urinary bacteria, resulting in more frequent UTIs.
Bloating
Feelings of extreme fullness, tightness, or swelling of the belly. High oestrogen levels can cause water retention.
Hair Changes
Low oestrogen levels affect hair follicles. Hair may become drier, more brittle, and may break or fall out more easily.
Dizziness
May come on suddenly and last only minutes or become extended and frequent, increasing fall risk.
Headaches
As oestrogen production slows, many women experience more intense headaches. These typically decrease after the transition completes.
Incontinence
Reduced oestrogen can thin urethra walls. Stress incontinence (leaking when laughing/sneezing) and urge incontinence are common.
Muscle Tension
Tight or strained muscles in the neck, back, and shoulders, or sudden increases in stiffness and soreness throughout the body.
Brittle Nails
Just as oestrogen is vital for healthy hair, it's also essential for strong nails. Low levels cause nails to become brittle and dry.
Digestive Problems
As oestrogen declines, cortisol rises, slowing digestion. This can cause bloating, constipation, and abdominal discomfort.
Allergies
Hormonal fluctuations can impact the immune system, causing increased sensitivity to allergens with symptoms from mild rashes to severe reactions.
Itchy Skin
Collagen loss in early menopause leads to thin, dry, itchy skin. Many women report a tickly feeling like cotton brushing against skin.
Osteoporosis
Oestrogen is key for maintaining bone density. When levels drop, bone loss can accelerate rapidly, increasing fracture risk.
Irregular Heartbeat
Oestrogen deficiency can overstimulate the nervous and circulatory systems, causing palpitations and arrhythmias. Seek medical advice if experienced.
Breast Pain
Breast tenderness in one or both breasts due to hormonal fluctuations. Usually disappears once oestrogen production stops completely.
Joint Pain
Oestrogen helps manage inflammation. Its decline causes swelling around joints and tendons, leading to aching in fingers, wrists, hips, and knees.
Emotional & Psychological Symptoms
Panic Disorder
Debilitating emotional episodes characterised by feelings of dread, rapid heartbeat, shallow breathing, and extreme terror.
Depression
Declining progesterone and oestrogen can result in feelings of sadness that may evolve into depression, with difficulty restoring calm.
Anxiety
The drop in oestrogen negatively influences dopamine and serotonin production, leading to anxiety and difficulty finding calm.
Lesser-Known Symptoms
These symptoms often surprise women - many don't realise they're connected to menopause
Burning Tongue
Changes in oestrogen levels can cause a metallic taste in the mouth, accompanied by pain or burning sensation on the tongue, lips, or gums.
Body Odour Change
Menopause can cause changes in natural scent, usually due to increased sweat production.
Tingling Extremities
Hormonal changes can affect the nervous system, causing tingling sensations in hands, feet, arms, and legs.
Electric Shock Sensation
Fluctuating oestrogen can cause electric shock sensations like a rubber band snapping between skin and muscle, often before hot flushes.
Important Note
While these symptoms are commonly associated with menopause, some may also indicate other health conditions. If you're experiencing concerning symptoms, particularly irregular heartbeat, severe dizziness, or significant mood changes, please consult your GP or healthcare provider.
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