There are more than 30 different signs of the menopause and while some are simple to recognise (hello, hot flushes) others aren’t always naturally associated with hormonal change. To help you understand what’s going on in your body, we asked intimate health expert Dr Shirin Lakhani some key questions…
What is peri-menopause and what signs can I look out for? Perimenopause is the transitional period before menopause. During perimenopause, your levels of oestrogen start to decrease. You may begin having menopause-like symptoms, such as hot flashes or irregular periods. Perimenopause can last for years. When you go a full 12 months without a period, menopause has begun.
Perimenopause can start in women in their 30s, although it is more common between the ages of 40 and 45. In addition to the characteristic hot flush, there are many related symptoms that can have a significant impact on a patient’s quality of life, such as nausea, joint aches, an increase in allergies, memory loss and palpitations, to name but a few.
The lack of awareness regarding menopausal symptomatology may result in needless anxiety for patients and a feeling of helplessness. Early symptoms also include a reduced libido and difficulty concentrating.
To prepare for it, I would strongly urge women to start writing down their symptoms. It is a good idea to track how you are feeling and what signs of the menopause you have.
Do not hesitate to make an appointment with a GP or private specialist if you want to discuss your symptoms. Perimenopause is arguably worse than menopause itself as your hormones fluctuate so much.
So, what is happening in the body when we enter menopause? During menopause, your body goes through huge hormonal changes. It decreases the amount of hormones it makes, particularly oestrogen and progesterone, which are produced by the ovaries. These fluctuations in hormone levels cause many symptoms.
Oestrogen deficiency can lead to hot flushes, night sweats, fatigue, vaginal dryness, poor memory and foggy thinking, low energy, depressed mood, decreased concentration, low libido and increased daytime sleepiness.
Progesterone deficiency can lead to anxiety, weight gain, water retention, headaches, swollen or tender breasts, bloating, spotting or breakthrough periods, mood swings, poor sleep, achy joints and excessive bleeding.
A testosterone deficiency can lead to decreased libido, anxiety, lack of self-confidence and motivation, lack of muscle and bone, fatigue, memory loss, decreased clitoral and nipple sensitivity and reduced quality and quantity of orgasms.
What are the key signs of menopause to look out for? We’ve touched on some of these above, but some symptoms you can expect once you’ve entered menopause are:
Hot flushes and night sweats Difficulty concentrating Nausea Joint aches Memory loss Palpitations Reduced libido A change in the normal pattern of periods Difficulty sleeping Reduced muscle mass Recurrent urinary tract infections With the population now living longer, healthier lives, women can spend up to one third to half of their lives in the peri and post-menopausal period. The average duration of vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes) also vary between ethnicities but can last for more than seven years.
One in four women will experience debilitating symptoms that can last up to 15 years. Menopausal symptoms can begin months or even years before your periods stop and can last around four years after your last period but some women experience symptoms for much longer.
For young women who find themselves catapulted into instant menopause due to surgery, medical treatment or a diagnosis of primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), the menopausal chapter can extend even further.
How can I best support myself during menopause? Certain lifestyle factors can affect how you feel during the menopause. My advice is don’t smoke and try to limit alcohol, get plenty of rest by keeping to regular sleep routines, eat a healthy diet and try to eat foods with a lot of calcium, such as kale or broccoli, to keep bones healthy.
I also recommend exercising regularly, and doing relaxing activities, such as yoga to aid with sleep. Also talk to your GP about your symptoms to see what they recommend. Remember you can ask for more than one opinion.
I would say there are many advantages to taking HRT and a doctor will determine if it is a suitable medication for you. It is a lifeline for many women and protects them from so many other conditions and can stop symptoms in their tracts. There are a lot of myths around HRT but now with body-identical HRT, the formulation has changed and the benefits far outweigh the risks.
Own Your Menopause To mark Menopause Awareness Month we’ve teamed up with our sister titles Health & Wellbeing and Platinum to encourage women to #ownyourmenopause.
We know that the menopause can have a huge impact on women and with this in mind, we want to help make a difference by arming you with the tools you need to recognise symptoms and cope with changes.
Our November issues will come with a jam-packed 48-page mini magazine full of expert tips and ideas on how you can embrace this time of life and feel more like you. And keep an eye out for more expert know-how, live Q&As and other great content on our Instagram pages.
You can share your own stories and advice too – using the hashtag #ownyourmenopause – to help other woman know that they’re not alone. A big thank you to Blue Green Health – who’s our partner for this campaign.
