Menopause Symptoms & Diagnosis

A woman is diagnosed to be in menopause if she has not had a period for one year. Menopause, which means the end of menstruation and fertility, can also be surgically induced. Most women experience menopause somewhere between the ages of 43 and 57.

Perimenopause

• Perimenopause is a period of time that can last as long as 10 years when a woman's body experiences all the hormonal changes that will end in menopause.

Causes of Symptoms

• The symptoms of menopause are caused by the fluctuating levels of hormones in the body, specifically the changes in estrogen and progesterone. A woman's fertility declines and her periods become more irregular, sometimes they are shorter, sometimes longer. Women experience physical as well as emotional symptoms which can include depression, anxiety, sleep disruptions, loss of energy and libido. Many women embrace menopause because the risk of becoming pregnant is no longer there and they no longer need to be concerned about having a period.

Long Term Effects

• Women in menopause may experience changes in cholesterol levels and are at a greater risk for a heart attack than are premenopausal women. Women also experience bone loss and are at greater risk for osteoporosis. The vaginal walls thin out and the labia atrophy, and some women have difficulty with lubrication.

Physical Symptoms

• In the same way that each woman's experience of having a period is different, each woman experiences menopause differently. Some have great difficulty with much discomfort, while others sail right along. Many women experience a decreased sex drive, including vaginal dryness and more painful intercourse. Hot flashes and night sweats are also common. While the exact cause of a hot flash is not known, the result is that a woman becomes uncomfortably hot and often appears flushed and sweaty. While brief, a hot flash can be extremely uncomfortable and somewhat disconcerting. Women sometimes awaken during the night to find their nightclothes soaked in perspiration. This disrupts their sleep in addition to the discomfort it causes.

Emotional Symptoms

• Anxiety, depression and a general sense of irritability are not unusual during this time. Some women report that they have difficulty thinking clearly. Women experience other life changes such as a child leaving home, divorce or the death of a parent during this time in their life and it is sometimes difficult to distinguish what the exact cause of a woman's distress is. Thus, women sometimes seek the help of a mental health professional to help deal with the emotional issues that arise.

Other Changes

• In addition to lifestyle and family changes, many women gain weight during this period. Some women find that the distribution of the weight on their bodies has changed, with more weight around their middle. Skin can change and wrinkles develop and some women, if they were acne prone earlier in life, find acne to become a recurring problem.

Considerations

• It is important to see a health professional during both perimenopause and menopause. The health professional can assist in preventative health care as well as help with treatment of hard to tolerate symptoms.