While health experts have identified 34 symptoms of menopause, it doesn’t mean you’re going to get them all *sigh of relief*. There are common symptoms that most menopausal women will experience, but other symptoms vary from person to person.
Symptoms occur when the hormones oestrogen and progesterone fluctuate—this is when women enter perimenopause, the first stage of menopause that, for most, starts in their 40s. These two hormones affect every tissue in the body, so when they become irregular and drop to low levels, the body responds. Enter, the most symptomatic stage of menopause.
If you’re of the average age of perimenopause, and you’re thinking ’34 symptoms, no thank you’, fear not, there are ways you can manage the symptoms you experience. We’ve created a glossary of terms, which answers the question ‘what are the 34 symptoms of menopause?’, but first, let’s dig a little deeper and explore what you can expect to happen.
The symptom that everyone talks about
Let’s talk about the most common symptom of menopause. The hot flush. It’s the one that comes up in most conversations about menopause, and when a woman of menopausal age makes a comment about feeling ‘too hot’, it’s not uncommon for people around her to think ‘crikey, it’s not that warm, must be menopause’.
Hot flushes happen because lower oestrogen levels cause the body’s heat manager—the hypothalamus—to become more sensitive and responsive to subtle changes in temperature. When your body detects a change, it reacts and tries to cool you down. The irony is, this is what makes you feel hotter. In an attempt to cool you down, your body begins to sweat and diverts blood to the surface of the skin, especially the chest and face. This is a hot flush.
While hot flushes make you feel hot, studies have shown that core body temperature only increases slightly. This subtle change in core temperature is amplified by the hypothalamus, causing an exaggerated cooling response. This is not the same as having a fever, even though it may feel like it.
Hot flushes involve:
- Feeling cold at the end of a hot flush
- Feelings of anxiety
- Increased heart rate
- Skin that looks rosy and blotchy
- Sudden feeling of warmth spreading through the chest, neck and face
- Sweating, mostly on the upper body
Women can experience hot flushes up to 50 times a day. That’s around two times an hour. On average, they last for around four minutes. That’s 12% of the entire day. This isn’t gospel, and some women will get fewer or more hot flushes. So, if you know someone going through menopause, try to have more sympathy and don’t just brush it under the carpet. Imagine feeling like you’re getting too close to the sun every 30 minutes.
The forgotten symptoms of menopause
Some symptoms can fly under the radar. That doesn’t mean they aren’t real—they very much are. The reason they often go unnoticed is that they aren’t talked about enough. Here’s why:
- Fewer people experience them during menopause
- They aren’t as well understood
- Finding relief can feel tricky, though it’s definitely possible
While the more common symptoms naturally come up in conversations more often, the less common ones deserve attention too. Ignoring them doesn’t help anyone. Some of these often-overlooked symptoms include:
- Burning mouth syndrome
- Digestive changes
- Dizziness and vertigo
- Paraesthesia (tingling sensations)
- Tinnitus
- Vaginal pain
These symptoms can cause a lot of confusion and frustration for women, as they may question why or even if hormonal changes are causing them to feel dizzy, tingly, and in pain. Unfortunately, there’s still a stigma linked to ‘invisible’ pain, but these symptoms are very real.
Each of these symptoms occurs because of the declining levels of oestrogen. Here’s why. Lower oestrogen impacts blood flow, which consequently causes changes to nerves. This can cause dizziness, paraesthesia, tinnitus and burning mouth syndrome. Hormones also play a role in the gut, so menopause can impact your microbiome, which can cause new digestive problems. Additionally, declining oestrogen can cause Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM), which can cause dryness, irritation, burning and urinary urgency.
Talking to your healthcare provider can help identify if these symptoms are caused by the menopause or something else, which will provide direction for the best course of treatment.
The misunderstood
The psychological symptoms of menopause are the ones that are the most misunderstood. These include:
- Anxiety
- Brain fog
- Fatigue
- Forgetfulness
- Irritability
- Loss of self-confidence
- Low mood
- Reduced concentration
Because these symptoms can’t be seen, they’re more challenging to identify and can often be dismissed as burnout or misdiagnosed. But psychological symptoms of the menopause can be more disruptive than physical symptoms, so it’s essential to know how to identify and manage them.
Oestrogen stimulates the brain, so when the hormone starts to decline, it can cause numerous neurological issues. Studies have shown that the brain actually shrinks during perimenopause, and neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which regulate mood, are impacted. This is what causes the psychological symptoms, but lifestyle factors like stress and poor sleep can worsen cognitive difficulties.
Unfortunately, poor sleep can be caused by the most common symptom of the menopause: the hot flush. So, it can be an aggressive cycle. Luckily, treatments like HRT can manage these symptoms, and you’ll be glad to know that these symptoms won’t last forever and many women find relief when they enter postmenopause.
How to manage menopause symptoms
Given that the symptoms of the menopause are so varied, there are different management techniques to use. But, it’s important to remember that what works for one person might not work for another.
The most common course of treatment is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). HRT replaces the hormones your body produces less of, so depending on personal circumstances, it may contain oestrogen, progestogen, or both. Your suitability for HRT may be impacted by factors including: what stage of menopause you’re at, if you’ve had a hysterectomy, if you have a history of some medical conditions like blood clots and breast cancer, and more.
Making alterations to your lifestyle can also help you manage your symptoms. This includes monitoring your nutritional intake, performing resistance training, and getting good sleep quality. Talking to your healthcare professional is the best course to understand how to manage menopause symptoms, as they can provide you with tailored support.
Key takeaways
It can be daunting to approach menopause and wonder what symptoms lie ahead, but awareness is key. Asking the question ‘What are the 34 symptoms of menopause?’ is a step in the right direction. By understanding your body and acknowledging changes, it can be easier to determine what symptoms are linked to the menopause. Keeping a diary of symptoms can be extremely useful, and talking to your healthcare provider is essential. They can help identify the severity of your symptoms and put measures in place so you can manage your symptoms with evidence-backed advice and care.
Those working in health are still learning, and there’s still a long way to go when it comes to education around women’s health. We’re paving the way forward with our Level 3 menopause course, so if you’re a healthcare provider looking to enhance your knowledge and provide more specialist support to your patients, then this course is for you.
Symptom glossary
What are the 34 symptoms of menopause? Here’s a breakdown.
Physical
- Allergies
- Body odour changes
- Brittle nails
- Burning mouth syndrome
- Changed body shape and weight gain
- Changes in taste and smell
- Difficulty sleeping
- Digestive issues
- Dizziness and vertigo
- Dry eyes
- Dry mouth
- Gum problems
- Hair changes
- Headaches and migraines
- Hot flushes
- Muscle and joint pain
- Night sweats
- Palpitations
- Skin changes
- Paraesthesia (tingling sensations)
- Tinnitus
- Water retention
Psychological
- Anxiety
- Brain fog
- Fatigue
- Forgetfulness
- Irritability
- Loss of self-confidence
- Low mood
- Reduced concentration
- Reduced libido
Urogenital
- Irregular periods
- Urinary problems
- Vaginal dryness
