The Pains of Menopause

Menopause brings with it a number of physical and emotional changes. Changes in hormone production disrupt both the mind and the body. While the worry of birth control will soon be behind, new inconveniences are ready to take its place. Menopause is a trying time for most women, but the pains that come with this rite of passage are treatable.

Mood Swings

• During menopause the body produces less and less of the hormones progesterone and estrogen. As the production of hormones changes so does mood predictability. Estrogen levels help to regulate mood and emotions. Too much estrogen is associated with an increase in anxiety. When the body does not produce enough estrogen (which is the case with menopause), depression is a common result. Chronic clinical levels of depression can be dangerous if not treated.

Hot Flashes

• Hot flashes are caused by hormone fluctuations during menopause. Hot flashes are usually experienced as feelings of heat and pressure in the head and torso. Sweating and speeding heartbeat are commonly felt during a hot flash. Less common symptoms are dizziness and fainting. Hot flashes vary from woman to woman. A hot flash can last anywhere from a few moments to nearly an hour. The severity of symptoms varies as well. Some women experience warmth while others feel extreme heat.

Painful Intercourse

• Under normal conditions, sexual arousal causes the vaginal walls to secrete a mucus-like fluid which lubricates the vagina, preparing it for intercourse. The hormonal changes during menopause decrease the production of vaginal fluids. Without proper lubrication, intercourse can be quite uncomfortable and even painful. The decrease in estrogen production during menopause often leaves women less interested in sex. The combination of a lacking libido and pain during intercourse lead to a less than satisfying postmenopausal sex life.

Infections

• During menopause the labia becomes thinner and less resistant to trauma and infection. This thinning of the labia is known as vaginal atrophy. Trauma can lead to infection while decreased levels of estrogen leave women more susceptible to gynecological diseases.

Treating Symptoms

• Most menopausal problems are the direct result of the hormonal changes that take place during this phase in a woman's life. Hormone replacement therapy is an option for treating many of the symptoms of menopause. Discuss treatment options with a professional as hormone replacement comes with its own set of potential side effects.
  Over-the-counter treatments are available for treating vaginal dryness. This is usually treated with an inner-vaginal lubricant to be used directly before intercourse.