Symptoms of Menopause Onset

Menopause is defined as the permanent cessation of menstruation. This occurs because as a woman ages, her ovaries slowly stop producing estrogen and progesterone--the two hormones crucial to regulating a woman's monthly menstrual cycle. By the time menopause is over, these hormone levels are one-tenth the amount they were pre-menopause. Menopause usually occurs when a woman is in her early 50s. The process can bring about a considerable amount of emotional distress, as it can be difficult to face the end of one's reproductive years, and because the physical symptoms of menopause can be uncomfortable and annoying.

Hot Flashes

• Hot flashes are the most typical symptom of the onset of menopause. When experiencing a hot flash, a woman may suddenly feel a sensation of warmth flooding her body, particularly suffusing her face, chest, arms or even her hands. This feeling may last from several seconds to several minutes. Some women also feel their heart beating very rapidly during the hot flash, or become chilly immediately afterward.

Irregular Bleeding

• A woman may notice changes in her menstrual cycle just before menopause begins. For example, she may notice that the length between her menstrual periods is either becoming closer together, or further apart. She may also observe that her periods last much shorter or longer than usual, with a scantier or heavier flow. If a woman sees signs such as these and is in her late 40s or early 50s, she should consider the possibility that menopause is about to begin.

Night Sweats

• Like hot flashes, night sweats are a classic and well-known symptom of the onset of menopause. Women experiencing night sweats often wake up in the middle of the night with drenched sheets, clammy, sweaty skin and a pounding heart. This reaction is caused by the fluctuation in hormone levels, which confuses the part of the brain that regulates body temperature (the hypothalamus) and causes it to send messages that your body needs cooling.

Mood Changes

• It's very common for some women to feel moody, irritable and teary during the onset of menopause. However, it can be difficult to tell whether these emotions are attributable to hormonal changes in the body, a response to other menopausal symptoms, or a reaction to the emotional complexity of undergoing menopause itself. Some women find relief of these symptoms with oral hormone therapy. But such therapy won't help the woman who is suffering from depression due to going through menopause itself.

Vaginal Dryness

• Vaginal dryness is an extremely common occurrence upon entering menopause. As estrogen levels decrease, the membranes near the uterus produce less mucous. (Estrogen is responsible for spurring the membranes to produce the mucous). As a result, the vagina becomes dry and the tissues lining the vagina become thin. This can be very uncomfortable for a woman, as dryness can cause itching and make intercourse unpleasant or even painful. Estrogen therapy often helps women suffering from this symptom.