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What are the symptoms? (Menopause Symptoms and Signs)

Hot flushes, night sweats and feeling emotional are all common symptoms of the menopause. They are caused by hormonal changes and vary from woman to woman. They may start before your periods stop, or develop several years later. They may be mind or they may be unpleasant and distressing. Irregular periods are another common sign that the menopause is approaching.
* Irregular periods
Your periods may cause become erratic and unpredictable some months or years before they actually stop. The flow might start to vary, from heavy one month to light the next. If your periods are vary irregular or very heavy, see your GP or practice nurse.
* Hot flushes and night sweats
These can occur any time before or during the menopause. They can be uncomfortable, but they are not harmful. Some women have none at all. Hot flushes and sweats usually happen in the week of your period in the up to the menopause. After your periods have stopped, they happen more frequently.

Hot flushes can happen on and off throughout the day, and may affect your sleep at night. They are probably caused by hormonal changes, but the exact cause is not known. You feel a wave of heat passing over your body, sometimes accompanied by redness, sweating or tingling. This can last for a number of seconds or up to several minutes. You may also feel a little faint and dizzy, and you may feel your heart beating faster.

Sweats can happen with or without a flush, usually at night. After sweating, you can feel very cold. Night sweats can make it very hard to get a good night’s rest.

* Dryness I the vagina
Your vagina may become drier, which can make sex painful or uncomfortable and increases the risk of vaginal infection. There may also be an increased risk of cystitis (bladder infection). If you notice any unusual discharge from your vagina, this may be a sign of infection and you should see your GP.

* Feeling emotional
At this stage in their lives, many women experience symptoms such as headaches, forgetfulness, irritability and feeling low. For some, it is the worst aspect of the menopause. As well as struggling with your own feelings, you may also worry about the effect of your mood swings on the people around you.

The changes in your body may certainly be responsible for some of these feelings. Mood changes may become worse around the time of your periods, for example due to increased premenstrual tension. But there may be other reasons for feeling emotional or down, particularly due to the changes and stresses in your life.

If you do feel depressed, find someone sympathetic to talk to. This could help you understand why you are feeling the way you are. You could try talking to friends or relations who have gone through the menopause, your GP or your practice nurse.