Symptoms of Menopause
Menopause is a life transformation that every woman will inevitably experience, akin to the transformative process of puberty. While puberty heralds a surge in sex hormones, optimizing fertility and marking the onset of womanhood, menopause presents a contrasting narrative. During this stage, sex hormones undergo a dramatic decline, de-optimizing fertility and speeding the aging process.
Women officially enter menopause when they have not had a period for 12 consecutive months. The average age of menopausal onset hovers around 51. However, every woman is different. Some women embark on this phase earlier, while others navigate it later in life. The first symptom mentioned when menopause is brought up are hot flashes. But hot flashes merely scratch the surface of a vast array of symptoms intricately connected to this transformative phase—symptoms that often elude the attention of both medical practitioners and the women enduring them.
Did you know there are over 30 symptoms of menopause?
These include:
Brain fog / Forgetfulness
Insomnia
Dry Skin
Anxiety
Depression
Crying Alot
Panic
Thinning Hair
Urinary Leakage
Irritability / Mood swings
Low Libido
Vaginal Dryness
Painful Intimacy
Vaginal Atrophy
Heart Palpitations
Weight Gain (especially in stomach area)
Bloating / Digestive issues / Constipation
Joint Aches
Tingling Extremities
Electric Shocks
Headaches
Breast Tenderness
Weaker Bones
Body Odor Changes
Allergies
Dizzy Spells
Many women experience a lot of those symptoms, but they do not relate them to menopause. These are all related to the dip in sex hormones you experience! Estrogen is your fountain of youth. It has over 400 functions in your body. It has a direct impact on your brain, gut, heart, bones, nervous system, skin, vagina, and many more!
What is Perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the transitional stage leading up to menopause. Peri means “near” or “around”. The average age for perimenopause is around 45. However, some women can enter perimenopause as early as their 30’s and as late as their 50’s. Every woman is unique and goes through her own unique menopausal transition.
The duration of perimenopause varies as well, but on average, it lasts for about four years. However, it can range from a few months to up to ten years. During perimenopause, hormonal fluctuations can cause various symptoms, including irregular menstrual cycles, hot flashes, mood swings, and changes in vaginal and sexual health.
