Top Ten Signs You're Entering Menopause

Some of the symptoms of menopause can be similar to those experienced with a number of health conditions. It’s important to know when you are entering menopause so you can make appropriate lifestyle changes and seek treatment and emotional support if needed.

But how can you tell for sure? There are many signs that come with menopause and if you find you are suffering from several or more of them, it is a reasonable suggestion that you are entering menopause.

As with any health symptoms, however, just one is enough to indicate that you should see your doctor. This way, you can be sure if you are indeed entering menopause or you are possibly suffering from another health problem.

Hot Flushes

More than three-quarters of women entering menopause will experience hot flushes. The hormonal changes that occur during menopause can trigger this very uncomfortable and often embarrassing phenomenon. They may last only a couple of minutes but can go on much longer for some women.

Vaginal Dryness

Another classic sign of menopause is vaginal dryness, which can also affect sex drive. As your oestrogen levels decline during menopause, the vaginal walls become thinner and dryer, which then leads to decreased lubrication. It can make sex uncomfortable or even painful.

Irregular Periods

Irregular periods are one of the most common signs of menopause. As oestrogen declines, ovarian function is affected. The result is that your menstrual cycle may be delayed or you may find periods come early. Changes to flow can also occur.

Mood Swings

While some incorrectly claim that menopausal mood swings are all in a woman’s mind, this is not the case. The hormonal changes can have significant effects on mood. This imbalance of hormones can leave women going from extreme highs to lows.

Night Sweats

In the same way that hot flushes during the day are common in menopausal women, night sweats are another common occurrence. In fact, they can start years before a woman experiences menopause.

They can be particularly difficult because they interrupt sleep and can leave women tired the next day. For some women, night sweats are so severe that their sheets are soaked and they are frequently waking up during the night.

Fatigue and Exhaustion

If you find you are feeling very fatigued, it could be a sign of menopause. This fatigue and exhaustion is often related to other menopause symptoms such as lack of sleep and depression. In turn, women find they feel especially tired. Others who are dealing with weight changes such as weight gain may be using crash diets to lose weight, which can also trigger fatigue from low blood sugar and poor nutrition.

Anxiety

Wildly fluctuating hormones and hot flushes can leave women anxious and fearful of the bodily changes that occur as they enter menopause. Worrying about the loss of control and confusion over what is happening can even trigger panic attacks and depression in women.

Weight Changes

Weight changes can occur with menopause but may relate more to menopausal anxiety and overeating than directly to physical changes. As we age, we tend to gain more visceral – or belly – fat, and this isn’t an effect of menopause as such but you may notice it around the time you experience other menopause symptoms.

Decreased Sex Drive

Many women suffer from a decreased sex drive as they enter menopause. This tends to relate to declining levels of oestrogen and other hormonal fluctuations. It can also relate to the psychological effects of menopause such as depression and anxiety. Vaginal dryness usually exacerbates the lack of sex drive in menopausal women.

Bladder Infections

Another potential sign that you are entering menopause is if you begin to experience bladder infections, especially if you previously had no bladder infections. As oestrogen levels decline, vaginal walls become thinner and a woman’s risk of bladder infections increases. In particular, bladder infections following sexual activity may be more common.

A Positive Menopause Experience

Ignoring changes in your body can mean that menopause isn’t a healthy, positive experience. If you find you are experiencing signs of menopause, see your doctor to make sure you have access to the treatments that are best for your personal transition.