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The single most significant landmark of this phase is the dramatic decline in the levels of hormone, particularly estrogen, that cause numerous physical and physiological changes. But hot flashes are not the sole symptom of this phase. Discover the 10 primary menopause symptoms below.
What is menopause?
Menopause marks a pause in a woman’s fertile period, being a normal and physiological event that corresponds to the cessation of menstrual flow due to ovarian failure .
It commonly occurs in women aged between 40 and 55 years, for a period of 12 months, beginning the climacteric (transition period between the reproductive period and after menopause).
Menopause symptoms
Menopause triggers several symptoms that can significantly impact a woman’s quality of life. Check out the main ones below.
1. Hot flashes
Caused by a decrease in estrogen production, causing a disruption in the body’s normal thermostat, hot flashes (hot flushes) can occur before a woman enters menopause and even after she has already entered menopause.
Although it is a very common symptom, some women do not experience these hot flashes.
2. Insomnia
Having trouble sleeping or waking up several times during the night are also symptoms caused by menopause.
As a result of a lack of restful sleep, a woman may feel more tired and irritable during the day.
3. Mood swings
Mood swings ( which can include feeling moody or suddenly feeling down) can also be a symptom of menopause. These changes are usually caused by the hormonal changes that occur during menopause.
4. Vaginal dryness
Vaginal dryness is a natural phenomenon that affects women during menopause and can affect self-esteem, sex life, and cause pain during intercourse.
Dryness occurs due to a drop in estrogen levels, the hormone responsible for feminine characteristics.
5. Decreased libido
Popularly known as sexual desire , libido plays an important role in women’s health and well-being. A decrease in libido occurs due to a drop in estrogen levels and the changes that a woman’s body goes through during menopause.
6. Weight gain
Another symptom that can arise all through menopause is weight advantage . As estrogen stages drop all through this segment, a female’s metabolism slows down, that could make contributions to weight benefit, in addition to the buildup of fat in the belly location.
7. Increased facial hair
Another symptom that may be related to menopause is an increase in the amount of facial hair in women.
This is usually due to hormonal changes, i.e., a decrease in estrogen production, which results in an increase in the amount of hair on the body.
8. Dizziness
Dizziness is another symptom that can appear and become frequent during menopause. Although the exact causes are not yet fully known, these episodes may be related to low estrogen levels .
9. Bloated belly
The feeling of bloating in the belly , which occurs during the menstrual period, is also very common during menopause.
As estrogen levels decrease, a woman’s body changes the way it digests dietary fats. As a result, gas production may increase, which causes this sensation.
10. Headache (migraine)
Women who are in their fertile period and usually experience headaches ( migraines ) in the days leading up to their period may also experience this symptom during menopause. Like other symptoms, migraines occur due to hormonal changes.
In addition to the symptoms mentioned, some women report other signs that appear during menopause , such as:
- drier skin;
- breast pain;
- difficulty concentrating and memorizing;
- hair loss ;
- urinary incontinence;
- depression .
What is early menopause?
Early menopause , or premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) , corresponds to the period in which the ovaries stop producing hormones before the age of 40.
Early menopause can have several causes , such as:
- autoimmune diseases;
- genetic alterations;
- diseases such as mumps ;
- chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
It is important to remember that early menopause is not reversible. However, assisted reproduction can help women who want to get pregnant .
What causes menopause?
Menopause is caused by the natural decline in the production of reproductive hormones.
As women approach their 40s, their ovaries begin making less estrogen and progesterone, two of the hormones that regulate menstruation, making a woman less fertile.
So, menstrual periods may become longer or shorter, bigger or quite a lot less frequent, until eventually the ovaries stop making hormones and there are no more large menstrual cycles (which occurs somewhere around the time of 50).
Is menopause a risk element for varicose veins?
Varicose veins arise whilst the valves inside the veins do no longer paintings nicely, leading to the buildup of blood in the affected location and accelerated stress within the vessels.
Although advanced age can contribute to the appearance of this problem, menopause can also be a risk factor for varicose veins .
For this reason, in addition to gynecological monitoring during menopause, it is also recommended to consult a vascular doctor.
