What are the Most Common Symptoms of Menopause?

Menopause is a completely normal and biological process in a woman’s life. It marks the end of fertility as your ovaries age and produce fewer reproductive hormones. This means that getting pregnant naturally is no longer possible. Women of different races, ethnicity, and background eventually reach menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, although this can vary. Typically, you will know that you are entering this life stage if you haven’t had your period for 12 months.

Before reaching menopause, you’ll experience perimenopause. Perimenopause is defined as a time when the hormones begin to change as menopause is approaching. During this phase, you may notice that your periods become irregular. For example, you have fewer or more frequent periods, and the flow might be heavier or lighter than usual. Skipping perimenopause and entering menopause right away is also common.

Menopause symptoms

Every woman’s menopause is unique, so it’s hard to pinpoint what yours might be like before you experience it. Some women may not even notice they are going through menopause observing almost no signs; others may be having a difficult time, experiencing severe symptoms and significant changes.

Existing research shows that more than 85% of women will deal with problematic menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, anxiety, mood changes, and weight gain. In the United States alone, hot flashes and night sweats are known to affect 40 to 50 million menopausal women.

Menopause signs can appear as early as four years before the last period, and can continue for four years after your last period; though for some women symptoms might persist for longer, even up to 12 years in rare cases. What’s more, certain health conditions, or lifestyle choices such as smoking, can lead to severe symptoms.

All in all, here are some common menopause symptoms:

• Vaginal dryness
• Dry skin, mouth, and eyes
• Weight gain
• Hair thinning or loss
• Increased hair growth on other body areas, such as the face, neck, and back
• Sore or tender breasts; less full breasts
• Reduced muscle mass and stiff joints
• Headaches and racing heart
• Depression and anxiety
• Increased urination and urinary tract infections
• Sleep disturbances and insomnia
• Lower sex drive
• Difficulty concentrating and remembering

Managing menopause symptoms

As challenging as menopause might be, it is important to accept it as something natural and inevitable. Besides, there are efficient ways to cope with the symptoms that are causing you discomfort. At-home remedies and mind-body therapies can be excellent in addition to conventional methods.

One study looked into how mindfulness and relaxation could reduce insomnia in postmenopausal women. Thirty women aged 50 to 65 years who reached menopause received mindfulness training. The results showed significant improvements not only in sleep quality and reduction of insomnia but also in overall life quality and attention levels. Many women also noticed a decrease in menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats.

Help your body and mind by making a few adjustments to your lifestyle and experimenting with simple at-home techniques such as:

• Dressing comfortably and keeping cool
• Taking care of your skin
• Adding some exercise to your daily routine
• Eating healthy, wholesome, and nutrient-rich foods
• Adding some natural supplements to your diet
• Keeping hydrated
• Avoiding smoking, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and processed foods
• Relaxing and being mindful

If it’s relaxation and mindfulness that you are after, Beginning.com offers a series of calming audio sessions to help you achieve a peaceful state of mind. Whether you are struggling to manage menopause symptoms, entering menopause, or simply going through a stressful time, our specially crafted sessions are there to guide you.

Unwind to the sound of waves, rustling leaves on a breezy night, birds chirping, comforting melodies, and soothing vocals. Listen to Beginning.com’s Menopause audio sessions to mindfully cope with emotional and physical changes today and tomorrow, step by step.