Its long overdue, considering the symptoms of menopause go well beyond the oft-parodied hot flash.
Menopause impacts yoursex life, your mental health, evenyour wardrobe.
Its time to make menopause symptoms as top of mind and well-acknowledged as those experienced during puberty.
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Says Dr. Millheiser, Knowledge is key here.
So what can you expect?
Here’s everything you gotta know about menopause symptoms.
But first, what is menopause?
The cycle is controlled by estrogen and progesterone, our reproductive hormones.
(For most women, the menopausal transition starts around age 45theaverage ageof menopause diagnosis is 51.)
What are common menopause symptoms?
hot flashes.Hot flashes can feel differentfor every woman.
They might include excessive perspiration, heart palpitations, anxiety, and even chills.
Menopausal women are more likely to develop sleep disorders like sleep apnea, according toJohns Hopkins Medicine.
Impacts to sexual functioning and libido are also commonly reported during perimenopause.
If youre experiencing it, youre not alone.
The drop in your estrogen levels during menopause can wreak havoc on your skin.
Menopause can also trigger theonset of rosacea.
Menopause may also come with breast tenderness and loss of volume.
As estrogen decreases, mammary glands shrink and breasts tend to lose firmness, according toPenn Medicine.
Menopause can also trigger a lot of mental changes, those so-called mood swings.
Mood and memory disturbances, such as depression and anxiety, are common during menopause, says Dr. Javaid.
The brain-hormone connection is integral to how well you feel your brain is functioning, says Dr. La Folette.
When should I see a doctor about my menopause symptoms?
While menopause may be a totally natural process, it doesnt mean you have to live with its symptoms.
When you start noticing irregularities in your menstrual cycle, talk to your doctor.
When you do enter menopause, dont panic, she adds.
There are many menopause treatment optionshormonal and nonhormonalavailable to give you a better quality of life.
Macaela MacKenzie is a writer and editor specializing in wellness.
