Menopause signs and symptoms, and treatments if you are experiencing them

Menopause usually starts between the ages of 40 and 58 years in developed countries. In the United States, the average age is 52 years. For some, it will occur earlier due to a medical condition or treatment, such as the removal of the ovaries.

Around the time of menopause, many females experience physical symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and a reduced sex drive. It can also lead to anxiety, changes in mood, and a reduced sex drive.

These symptoms may start before menstruation ends, and they can last for several years. The impact on a person’s quality of life can range from mild to severe. However, there are ways of managing these symptoms.

Each person will experience menopause differently. Many have full, active lives throughout the transition and afterward, and some feel relieved by no longer having to deal with menstruation or birth control.

Maintaining a healthful diet and getting regular exercise can help a person feel better and boost their overall health in the long term. For those who experience menopause symptoms, treatments and support are available.

In this article, find out more about what to expect during menopause.

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Around menopause, various physical and mental changes can occur, causing symptoms. Some of these start before menopause, and some continue after it.

The changes involved in perimenopause and menopause include:

Lower fertility

As a female approaches the end of the reproductive stage, but before menopause begins, estrogen levels start to fall. This reduces the chances of becoming pregnant.

Irregular menstruation

The first sign that menopause is approaching is usually periods occurring less regularly. They may come more or less frequently than usual, and they may be heavier or lighter.

Anyone who has concerns about menstrual changes should see a doctor, as these changes can also indicate pregnancy or some health issues.

Is it normal to have brown spotting after menopause?

Vaginal dryness and discomfort

Vaginal dryness, itching, and discomfort may start during perimenopause and continue into menopause. A person with any of these symptoms may experience chafing and discomfort during vaginal sex. Also, if the skin breaks, this can increase the risk of infection.

Atrophic vaginitis, which involves thinning, drying, and inflammation of the vaginal wall, can sometimes occur during menopause.

Various moisturizers, lubricants, and medications can relieve vaginal dryness and associated issues.

Learn more about atrophic vaginitis here.

Hot flashes

Hot flashes are common around the time of menopause. They cause a person to feel a sudden sensation of heat in the upper body. The sensation may start in the face, neck, or chest and progress upward or downward.

A hot flash can also cause:

• sweating
• red patches to form on the skin

Some people experience night sweats and cold flashes, or chills, in addition to or instead of hot flashes.

Hot flashes usually occur in the first year after menstruation ends, but they can continue for up to 14 years after menopause.

What does a hot flash feel like? Find out here.

Sleep disturbances

Sleep problems can arise during menopause, and they may stem from:

• anxiety
• night sweats
• an increased need to urinate

Getting plenty of exercise and avoiding heavy meals before bedtime can help with managing these issues, but if they persist, contact a healthcare provider.

Click here for some tips on how to get better sleep.

Emotional changes

Depression, anxiety, and low mood are common during menopause. It is not unusual to experience times of irritability and crying spells.

Hormonal changes and sleep disturbances can contribute to these issues. Also, a person’s feelings about menopause may come into play. For example, distress about low libido or the end of fertility can contribute to depression during menopause.

While feelings of sadness, irritability, and tiredness are common during menopause, they do not necessarily indicate depression. However, anyone who experiences a low mood for 2 weeks or longer should see a doctor, who will be able to advise about the best course of action.

Anyone who has concerns about sleep or any changes related to menopause should contact a healthcare provider.

An article published in 2018 suggests that there may, in some cases, be a link between menopause and suicide. Anyone who is thinking about suicide should seek help from a counselor or health professional. There are also anonymous hotlines available.

Trouble focusing and learning

In the lead-up to menopause two-thirds of women may have difficulty with concentration and memory.

Keeping physically and mentally active, following a healthful diet, and maintaining an active social life can help with these issues. For example, some people benefit from finding a new hobby or joining a club or a local activity.

Physical changes

Various physical changes can develop around the time of menopause.

People may experience:

• a buildup of fat around the abdomen
• weight gain
• changes in hair color, texture, and volume
• breast reduction and tenderness
• urinary incontinence

However, the link between these changes and menopause is not always clear. Some may occur independently at the same time as the transition, and age and lifestyle can also play a role.

What are the most effective ways to lose weight during menopause?

Increased risk of some health conditions

After menopause, the risk of certain health issues appears to increase. Menopause does not cause these conditions, but the hormonal changes involved may play some role.

Osteoporosis: This is a long-term condition in which bone strength and density decrease. A doctor may recommend taking vitamin D supplements and eating more calcium-rich foods to maintain bone strength.

Find out more about osteoporosis treatments.

Cardiovascular disease: The American Heart Association (AHA) note that, while a decline in estrogen due to menopause may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, taking hormone therapy will not reduce this risk.

Breast cancer: Some types of breast cancer are more likely to develop after menopause. Menopause does not cause breast cancer, but hormonal changes involved appear to increase the risk.

Skin changes can also occur around the time of menopause. Find out more.

Menopause is the stage of life that follows the end of the menstrual cycles. Each person may experience menopause differently.

It can last for several years, and there are three stages:

• Perimenopause: This is the transitional time that starts before menopause and includes the 12 months that follow a person’s last period.
• Menopause: This starts either 12 months after the last period or when menstruation has stopped for a clinical reason, such as the removal of the ovaries.
• Postmenopause: Posmeopause refers to the years after menopause, although it can be difficult to know when menopause finished and postmenopause starts.

How long do menopause symptoms last? Find out her,5e.

Common ages to experience symptoms

According to the Office on Women’s Health, the average age for menopause in the U.S. is 52 years, and it usually occurs between the ages of 48 and 58 years. It may happen earlier if the person has never had children or if they smoke. Birthing parents and their children assigned female at birth often experience it around the same age.

The changes usually begin in the late 40s, and periods stop on average around 4 years later, but the transition can last between 2 and 8 years. When there has been no menstruation for 12 months, menopause occurs.

Sometimes menopause happens early. Doctors call it “premature menopause” if it develops before the age of 40 years and “early” if it starts between the ages of 40 and 45. Early menopause naturally occurs in around 5% of females.

Symptoms such as hot flashes can start before menopause and may continue for several years after, but each person is different.

Most information about menopause describes the experiences of cisgender, heterosexual women. However, menopause can affect anyone who is born with ovaries.

A person who transitions to male but who retains their ovaries may experience menopause when their ovaries stop producing eggs.

If a person starts taking supplementary testosterone as part of their transition, they may experience menopause symptoms then. Also, menopause symptoms can develop when a person undergoes surgery to remove their ovaries.

When transitioning involves any of these experiences, the symptoms of menopause will be the same as those of cisgender women.

However, transgender people can face additional difficulties, depending on the attitude of their medical team. It is essential that transgender people have access to healthcare providers who understand their needs and can address them effectively.

Menopause is not a health problem but a natural transition. However, it can involve unwanted physical and mental changes.

Anyone who has concerns about these changes should seek medical advice. A doctor may recommend one or more of the following:

Hormone therapy

This treatment helps balance the body’s hormone levels by providing supplemental estrogen and a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone.

Hormone therapy comes in various forms, including skin patches and topical creams. It can help reduce the occurrence of hot flashes and other menopause symptoms.

However, using it may increase the risk of developing certain diseases and health conditions.

A person should not use hormone therapy if they have risk factors for the following health problems, or if they have a personal or family history of these issues:

• heart disease
• blood clots
• high levels of triglycerides in the blood
• gallbladder disease
• liver disease
• stroke
• breast cancer

It is important to discuss the possible benefits and risks of hormone therapy with a doctor before deciding to use it.

Other treatments

A person may find that the following can also help relieve symptoms:

• over-the-counter gels and other products for vaginal dryness
• prescription pills, creams, and rings for vaginal dryness
• low-dose hormonal birth control pills for hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and mood changes
• low-dose antidepressants for hot flashes, even among people who do not have depression

Tips for managing the challenges of menopause include:

• getting regular exercise
• practicing relaxation and deep breathing exercises
• having a healthful diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
• quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke
• limiting the intake of alcohol
• seeking counseling for anxiety, mood changes, and relationship concerns
• establishing good sleeping habits and getting plenty of rest
• doing Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor
• talking to friends and family about the experience of menopause
• exploring new ways of enjoying intimacy with a partner
• joining a club, volunteering, or taking up a new hobby

Can I use coconut oil for vaginal dryness?

Keeping an active sex life

Menopause can reduce a person’s sex drive and lead to vaginal dryness, but it also removes the need for birth control. For some, this can make sex more enjoyable.

Having sex often can increase vaginal blood flow and help keep the tissues healthy.

Some tips for maintaining sexual health and activity during menopause include:

• staying physically active
• avoiding tobacco products, recreational drugs, and alcohol
• taking the time to become aroused, which will improve lubrication
• doing Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor
• not using any strong soaps around the vagina, as these can worsen irritation

Also, menopause symptoms lead some people to find satisfying forms of sex that do not involve the vagina as much or at all.

It is worth remembering that, while a woman cannot become pregnant once menopause starts, it is still important to use barrier protection during penetrative sex to protect against sexually transmitted infections.

Often, sexual partners will be getting older — and may be experiencing menopause — at the same time. They, too, may be feeling a drop in sex drive. Opening up about any concerns can help both partners feel better and explore new forms of intimacy.

What can I do about breast tenderness during menopause?

Menopause is a stage in life, not an illness. Most women experience natural menopause during midlife. However, surgery and other factors can cause menopause to start earlier.

Natural menopause

A female’s reproductive years last from puberty to menopause — from one natural transition to another.

Toward menopause, the levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone in the body fall because they are no longer necessary to support reproduction. These changes trigger menopause.

Surgery and treatment

If a person undergoes surgery to remove their ovaries, they will experience menopause. If this happens before middle age, doctors may refer to it as “early menopause.”

A doctor may recommend hormone therapy to reduce some symptoms, but as always, it is important to discuss the risks as well as the potential benefits of this treatment.

Some treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, can cause the ovaries to stop working either temporarily or permanently. The likelihood of this happening depends on the person’s age and the type and location of the treatment.

A person who experiences menopause because of a clinical treatment will experience the same symptoms as a person who experiences natural menopause. However, the symptoms may appear more abruptly, because the physical change is more sudden.

A person may also experience sadness or depression about an early loss of fertility. Some people decide to freeze eggs or pursue other options for having children later in life before undergoing this type of treatment. Counseling is often available.

It is also important to discuss related health effects with a doctor, as people who experience menopause early may have a higher risk of developing heart disease and osteoporosis.

Premature menopause

Some people experience menopause earlier than others for reasons other than medical interventions.

Sometimes, menopause develops early if a person has:

• a genetic condition that affects the chromosomes, such as Turner’s syndrome
• an autoimmune disease
• in rare cases, an infection, such as tuberculosis, malaria, or mumps

Anyone who experiences changes in menstrual patterns before the age of 45 should see a doctor.

Menopause is not an illness, but many people benefit from seeing their doctors when menstruation ends.

A doctor can often confirm whether the reason for this change is perimenopause or menopause by asking some questions. They may also test hormone levels and perform other analyses of the blood and urine to rule out health issues. No tests, however, can conclusively indicate that menopause has begun.

People can check their hormone levels at home with testing kits, some of which are available for purchase online.

For many people, menopause is not the only transition that occurs during middle age. Changes in relationships and work or home life — such as children moving away — can also have a significant impact. When more than one of these changes occurs in a short period, it can feel overwhelming.

However, many people live active, healthy lives throughout menopause and for many decades afterward, and midlife can often be the start of a new chapter.