En Español (Spanish Version)
by Scholten A
Symptoms of Menopause
Each woman experiences menopause differently. Some women have many symptoms and others have a few. Changing levels of estrogen and progesterone can cause this variety of symptoms.
Symptoms include:
- Shorter or longer cycles
- Heavier or lighter bleeding
- Spotting in between periods
- Reduced fertility
- Reported in up to 75% of American women
- Sudden onset of a feeling of heat
- Flushed face and neck
- Last 30 seconds to five minutes
- Occur at any time
- Usually stop within a few years after menopause
- Skin in genital area becomes drier and thinner
- Sexual intercourse may become painful
- Vaginal dryness and burning
- Urinary tract problems may occur, such as
infection
and incontinence
- Attitude toward sex may change
- Diminished interest in sex
- Arousal and comfort may be difficult
- Freedom from concerns about pregnancy (but should use birth control until one year after last period)
- Risk of sexually transmitted diseases remains
- Normal sleep patterns may be interrupted
- Early morning waking
-
Irritability
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Stress and change in family dynamics may contribute to mood problems
- Thickening at the waist
- Loss of muscle mass
- Increase in fat
- Loss of elasticity in the skin
- Headaches
- Joint and muscle stiffness or pain
- Difficulty concentrating
- Thinning of scalp hair; more prominent facial hair
References
Menopause. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://dynamed.ebscohost.com/about/about-us. Updated January 15, 2013. Accessed April 18, 2013.
Menopause. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists website. Available at:
http://www.acog.org/~/media/For%20Patients/faq047.pdf?dmc=1&ts=20130416T1306377302. Accessed April 18, 2013.
Menopause symptom relief and treatments. US Department of Health and Human Services Women's Health website. Available at:
http://womenshealth.gov/menopause/symptom-relief-treatment/index.html. Updated September 29, 2010. Accessed April 18, 2013.