Symptoms of Menopause

For some women, menopause may simply mark a transition into a new period of life; for others, however, perimenopause and menopause can signal a huge disruption to quality of life due to a range of symptoms and physical changes. If you experience any of the following symptoms to the extreme, hormone therapy may be able to help.

Changes to Periods

While menopause will ultimately end with the cessation of menstruation, the preceding months and even years are often marked by irregularity of periods. You may not menstruate at all for a number of months, and then suddenly experience a period when you least expect it. The length of each individual period, as well as the duration of your cycle in general, may also change.

Mood Swings

General anxiety and depression frequently stem from the hormonal changes occurring during the beginning of menopause. Many women also complain of frequently cycling moods, or unwarranted emotional reactions to triggers that normally wouldn’t affect them.

Difficulty Sleeping

During the beginning stages of menopause and through your more mature years, you may experience difficulty falling or staying asleep. While some women find that they no longer require as much sleep to feel refreshed in the morning, this insomnia can be extremely disruptive to others, and can cause additional problems with mood and memory. Often, night sweats are a cause of middle-of-the-night waking.

Hot Flashes

Over three quarters of perimenopausal and menopausal women report experiencing feeling incredibly hot, sweaty, and flushed at random intervals. Hot flashes can be extremely disruptive and embarrassing, especially when they result in excessive amounts of perspiration.

Skin Changes

As your body produces less estrogen, you’re likely to experience changes to your skin. Some women may experience breakouts, but more commonly, the skin becomes drier, less elastic, and rougher. Wrinkles are a frequent occurrence, as are changes to vaginal and urinary tissues that stem from menopause-related skin changes .

Every woman’s experience of menopause is different, but if you find your life being significantly disrupted by your symptoms, you’re not alone.  Contact our office if you would like some information on how hormone replacement therapy can may be able to help conteract your menopause symptoms.