What are the signs and symptoms of menopause

--Signs & symptoms:

Every woman experiences menopause differently. Even the age at which menopause begins may be unique to you. Some women reach menopause in their 30s or 40s, & some not until their 60s, but menopause most often occurs between the ages of 45 & 55.

Your signs & symptoms also r likely to be very individual. You may breeze through menopause with few signs & symptoms. Or u may experience a number of physical & emotional changes, including:


--Irregular periods. Your menstrual periods may stop suddenly, or gradually get lighter or heavier & then stop. The unpredictability of ur periods may be ur first clue that menopause is approaching.

--Decreased fertility. When ovulation begins to fluctuate, you're less likely to become pregnant. Until u have not had a period for a year, however, pregnancy is still possible.
Vaginal & urinary changes. As ur estrogen level declines, the tissues lining ur vagina & urethra — the opening to ur bladder — become drier, thinner & less elastic. With decreased lubrication u may experience burning or itching, along with increased risk of infections of ur urinary tract or vagina. These changes may make sexual intercourse uncomfortable or even painful. You may feel the need to urinate more frequently or more urgently, & u may experience urinary incontinence.

--Hot flashes. As ur estrogen level drops, ur blood vessels may expand rapidly, causing ur skin temperature to rise. This can lead to a feeling of warmth that moves upward from ur chest to ur shoulders, neck & head. You may sweat, & as the sweat evaporates from ur skin, u may feel chilled, weak & slightly faint. Your face might look flushed, & red blotches may appear on ur chest, neck & arms. Most hot flashes last from 30 seconds to several minutes, although they can last much longer. The frequency, as well as the duration, of hot flashes varies from person to person. You may have them once every hour or only occasionally. They can occur any time during the day or night. They may be a part of ur life for a year or more, or u may never have them.

--Sleep disturbances & night sweats. Night sweats r often a consequence of hot flashes. You may awaken from a sound sleep with soaking night sweats followed by chills. You may have difficulty falling back to sleep or achieving a deep, restful sleep. Lack of sleep may affect ur mood & overall health.

--Changes in appearance. Many women gain a modest amount of weight — about 5 pounds on average — during the menopausal transition. The fat that once was concentrated in ur hips & thighs may settle above ur waist & in ur abdomen. You may notice a loss of fullness in ur breasts, thinning hair & wrinkles in ur skin. If u previously experienced adult acne, it may become worse. Although ur estrogen level drops, ur body continues to produce small amounts of the male hormone testosterone. As a result, u may develop coarse hair on ur chin, upper lip, chest & abdomen.

--Emotional & cognitive changes. You may experience irritability, fatigue, decreased memory & diminished concentration as u approach menopause. These symptoms have sometimes been attributed to hormonal fluctuations. Yet other factors r more likely to contribute to these changes, including sleep deprivation & stressful life events — such as the illness or death of a parent, grown children leaving home or returning home, & retirement.

Actually its very individual. Some women feel mood changes, sleep problems, dryness of skin and vagina, hot flashes. Some feel very little and some feel a lot of these symptoms. The best would go to your doctor and have some blood tests done to check your hormonal balance.