Menopause symptoms such as irregular menstruation, hot flashes or night sweats usually appear gradually a few months before a woman enters this phase. This happens due to estrogen levels that decrease over time, causing several changes in the woman’s body.
These symptoms can vary in intensity from one woman to another and generally appear between the ages of 45 and 51, but can also occur before or after this age range. Therefore, whenever menopause is suspected, it is important to consult a gynecologist to confirm the diagnosis.
If menopause is confirmed, the doctor may recommend treatment with hormone replacement therapy and lifestyle changes to alleviate symptoms and improve the woman’s quality of life.
Main symptoms of menopause
The main symptoms of menopause are:
1. Irregular menstruation
One of the first signs that a woman may be entering menopause is irregular menstruation, which may come more or less frequently, be more abundant or less, or last more or fewer days than before.
This period in which menstruation becomes irregular is called perimenopause and is a transition phase between reproductive and non-reproductive life, which occurs before a woman enters menopause and can last a few months or years.
It is important to note that when your period is irregular, it is more difficult to get pregnant, but it is still possible. Therefore, for women who wish to avoid pregnancy, it is necessary to use a contraceptive method recommended by the gynecologist.
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2. Menstruation with clots
During the climacteric, which is the transition period from the reproductive to the non-reproductive phase, it is common to notice the appearance of some clots during menstruation. However, if many clots are noticed, it is important that the gynecologist is consulted, as it may be a sign of changes that must be treated appropriately. Find out the main causes of menstruation with clots.
3. Hot flashes
Hot flashes can occur in some women in the period before menopause, and can appear even before menstruation becomes irregular, and last for a few years, even after menopause. This symptom can make a woman feel hot suddenly and for no apparent reason, usually in the face, neck or chest, which can leave the skin red and sweaty, and the heart beating faster, for 1 to 5 minutes.
However, despite being a common symptom that a woman may be entering menopause, not all women experience this symptom.
If a woman has hot flashes, but is not sure whether it is related to menopause, she should consult a gynecologist, as there are other medical conditions, such as hyperthyroidism or hypogonadism, and even the use of medication, which can cause hot flashes. . Check out other causes of hot flashes.
4. Night sweats
Night sweats are hot flashes that occur during sleep and can be so intense that they can interrupt sleep. This symptom can vary greatly from woman to woman, and some may experience night sweats even before entering menopause and continue after menopause or never experience this symptom.
In addition to menopause, other causes of night sweats can be stress or anxiety, diabetes or even the temperature of the room in which you sleep. See other causes of night sweats.
5. Difficulty sleeping or insomnia
Waking up during the night, having difficulty sleeping or insomnia can happen for a variety of reasons, but if a woman normally has no problems sleeping, it could be a sign that menopause is approaching. Furthermore, women may also have lower quality and less restful sleep, making them feel more tired or irritable during the day.
6. Mood changes
Another symptom that may indicate that menopause is approaching are mood changes such as irritability, anxiety, excessive tiredness and bad mood, which can even cause a feeling of being out of control. These changes may occur due to hormonal variations during menopause and increase the risk of developing depression.
If a woman feels depressed or has frequent mood changes for more than two or three weeks, it is important to consult a gynecologist to confirm whether it is menopause or whether there may be another cause that requires more appropriate treatment.
7. Vaginal dryness
Vaginal dryness is a symptom that may appear in some women, due to a decrease in the production of estrogen by the ovaries, which causes a change in the lining of the vaginal canal and a decrease in the production of mucus that keeps the vagina moist.
This symptom may cause pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse, itching in and around the vagina, or the urge to urinate frequently. Furthermore, it can increase a woman’s risk of developing candidiasis or cystitis, for example, more frequently.
8. Decreased sexual desire
A decrease in sexual desire can occur for various reasons in a woman’s life, such as stress or tiredness, but it is also a symptom that may indicate that she may be entering menopause, as hormonal changes during this phase of a woman’s life can reduce interest in sex. intimate contact.
9. Urinary incontinence
Urinary incontinence can occur during menopause, as the reduction in estrogen also affects the lining of the urethra, which is the channel through which urine is eliminated, making it thinner, less flexible and less elastic, which can cause persistent and involuntary urination.
Furthermore, due to changes in the urethra, women may experience urinary infections more frequently during menopause, and it is important to consult a gynecologist if they experience symptoms of pain or burning when urinating, or a constant low-grade fever.
10. Poor memory
Poor memory, difficulty learning, remembering words or remembering names and places where you kept objects, for example, can occur because during menopause the ovaries do not produce estrogen, which is an important hormone for a woman’s concentration, learning and memory.
Furthermore, women may experience organizational or planning problems due to this hormonal change.
However, there are other causes for poor memory that can occur due to natural aging, such as Alzheimer’s disease, for example, and so it is important to consult a gynecologist to confirm whether this symptom is indicative of menopause.
11. Dry skin
Another common symptom that may indicate that a woman is entering menopause is the skin becoming drier, thinner, more flaccid or dull, and this occurs because estrogen is essential for the production of collagen, which leaves the skin more moist and hydrated. and firm. Furthermore, during menopause, women may also experience hair loss.
12. Increase in body weight
During menopause, women can increase their body weight, as there is a decrease in metabolism and, consequently, in the burning of calories, due to the reduction in estrogen levels, which can make women gain weight more easily, in addition to presenting accumulation of fat around the waist.
However, other situations, such as hypothyroidism, can also increase body weight, requiring a medical evaluation.
Menopause symptoms online test
If you think you have or may be entering menopause, mark the symptoms in the test below:
The symptom test is only a guidance tool and does not replace a consultation with a gynecologist.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of menopause is made by the gynecologist based on the symptoms the woman presents and the absence of menstruation for 12 consecutive months.
In addition, the doctor may also request a test to check the levels of the hormone FSH, estrogen and progesterone in the blood, to confirm that the woman is in menopause. See the main tests to identify menopause.
How to relieve symptoms
Many symptoms associated with menopause are temporary, but there are some tips that can help alleviate, reduce or prevent their effects:
- Dress in layers of clothing and take it off or put it on as hot flashes or night sweats appear;
- Trying to identify what causes hot flashesas for some women, triggers can include hot drinks, caffeine, spicy foods, alcohol, stress, hot weather and even a hot room;
- Avoid drinks that contain caffeinesuch as coffee, black tea or green tea, for example, as they can make it difficult to sleep or cause insomnia, especially if taken at night;
- Do Kegel exercises daily, to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and improve urinary incontinence. See how to do Kegel exercises correctly.
- Use a water-based vaginal lubricantrecommended by your doctor, to help reduce the discomfort of vaginal dryness, especially during sexual intercourse, which can cause pain or discomfort;
- Avoid smokingas smoking can increase hot flashes and cause early menopause.
- Try relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga or massage, as these can reduce mood swings, stress and anxiety. Check out the main relaxation techniques;
- Practice physical activities regularly because it helps release endorphins that increase feelings of well-being and pleasure, which can help improve mood or depression.
It is always important to consult a gynecologist when presenting possible symptoms of menopause to carry out an assessment, confirm the diagnosis and, if necessary, start treatment with hormone replacement. Find out how hormone replacement therapy is performed.
Furthermore, it is important to have a healthy diet including fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains, avoiding canned or processed foods and sugar, to help alleviate menopause symptoms and control body weight.
Watch the video with nutritionist Tatiana Zanin with these and other dietary tips on how to alleviate menopause symptoms:
Source: www.tuasaude.com