Common Menopause Symtpoms

Menopause is a natural phase of every woman's aging process that is usually marked by a specific set of symptoms. The progression usually runs for several years or more starting with gradual changes in her menstrual cycle and concluding with complete cessation of menstruation.

For some women, this can be a confusing time that incites many questions. Women may wonder, what exactly is menopause and what does it mean? When does it start and end? What menopause symptoms will I have to endure?

While most women will experience menopause between the ages of 40 and 55, some women will enter much sooner or later, for instance a woman can start as early as 30 years of age or not until she reaches the age of 60.

All women are different which makes it difficult to predict when menopause will be reached. However there does seem to be some correlation between mother and daughter. A daughter can generally expect to approach this phase of her life around the same age that her mother did.

The beginning of menopause is also known as Perimenopause or pre-menopause and is usually marked by symptoms that include irregular menstruation, which may consist of longer or shorter periods, as well as lighter or heavier menstrual flow.

Beside the reduction and eventual cessation of menstruation, there are a variety of other menopause symptoms that may occur in varying degrees. They are the result of the hormonal fluctuations that are occurring in a woman's body at the time of menopause.

A woman's body produces a female hormone called estrogen that regulates her menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and her female physical characteristics including body shape and hair. It's also important because the decrease in estrogen can lead to bone loss or osteoporosis if not addressed with calcium supplementation and exercise.

Menopause symptoms often appear both physically and psychologically. One common complaint is hot flashes that are marked by an attack of gradually increasing warmth that spreads throughout the body. Hot flashes are usually more pronounced in the chest and head areas and can last several minutes.

At night, they can include night sweats, which involves heavy sweating that drenches her night clothes and bedding, thereby affecting her quality of sleep.

Other common menopause symptoms often become more noticeable with the progression of menopause. The gradual reduction in estrogen can also cause the tissue in the vaginal lining to become thinner and to lose its elasticity. This can be recognized largely by dryness as well as itching and irritation of the vagina.

Estrogen reduction can also affect the urethra lining in a similar way, which can increase a woman's risk of developing urinary tract infections. The resulting changes can also cause a women to develop more urgent and frequent needs to urinate.

Weight gain or a redistribution of body fat are other menopause symptoms that can cause concern. Some women might also experience hair growth that appears most often on the chin, upper lip and abdomen.

The list of possible symptoms is extensive, but some more of the most common may also include constipation, headaches, migraines, extreme fatigue, restlessness, heart palpitations, anxiety, loss of libido and inability to sleep.

Emotional and cognitive menopause symptoms can include fatigue, intense irritability, wild and rapid mood swings inability to cope, problems with memory and concentration and depression.

It's important to note that not all menopause symptoms will appear in all women. The particular path that the symptoms take differs from one woman to another.

While some women will experience no or very light menopause symptoms, others will have many symptoms in varying degrees of severity. Most women who do endure debilitating symptoms usually begin to see them subside within a few years.

It's helpful to keep in mind that menopause and all that accompanies it is a period of transition and will eventually come to an end.