Understanding Menopause: A Closer Look at Its Symptoms

Ugly surprises? No, thank you. Menopause can be a challenging and disruptive experience – but this doesn’t always have to be the case. If you’re looking towards menopause on the horizon, there are a number of ways you can prepare yourself for what’s coming. 

Physical changes. Mental changes. Emotional changes. This significant life transition brings them all along for the ride, all of which can have varying levels of impact on our health and wellbeing. 

Since no two experiences of menopause will be the same, however, building a baseline understanding is the first step in achieving personalised care for your individual experience of menopause and its many fluctuating changes. 

Even if you’re no stranger to menopause, it never hurts to refresh your understanding of its symptoms. You may find new treatment pathways that can reduce their severity by broadening your awareness of existing and emerging options. Here’s our cheat sheet guide to menopause’s common and lesser-known symptoms.

What is menopause?

Menopause is an unavoidable natural biological process that marks not only the end of menstrual cycles, but also the end of a woman’s fertile years. This most often occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, with all kinds of hormonal changes coming along with it.

The first phase of menopause is perimenopause, when hormone levels (namely oestrogen) begin to fluctuate. The beginning of perimenopause can make itself known through irregular periods, the beginning of hot flushes and night sweats, mood swings, and other symptoms that mimic menopause. On average, perimenopause can last between 4-6 years.

Perimenopause is followed by menopause, which is defined as beginning once periods have stopped for a period of 12 consecutive months. After menopause, women enter a postmenopausal stage. 

While menopause follows a linear process, individual experiences of menopause can differ greatly, as can the timing of when each stage occurs. 

Menopause’s common symptoms

You’re likely aware of menopause’s most common symptoms, including:

• Hot flushes (which are marked by a sudden feeling of warmth, that can often also result in sweating)
• Night sweats (which can be extremely disruptive to sleep, having a negative impact on overall wellbeing and energy levels)
• Mood changes (such as feelings of sadness, anxiety, or depression)
• Fatigue (leading to drops in energy and concentration capabilities)

These symptoms can not only mark the beginning of perimenopause, but can often continue to define an individual’s menopausal experience. A range of lifestyle modifications, natural treatment options and hormonal treatment options can help to reduce the impact and severity of these common symptoms.

The lesser-known symptoms of menopause

While it’s helpful to make sure you’re intimately familiar with the fingerprints of common menopausal symptoms, it’s also the lesser-known symptoms that can cause issues throughout perimenopause and menopause alike.

Have you found yourself more forgetful than usual, or struggling to concentrate throughout the day? This could be menopause’s fault as well. Cognitive changes can be a significant symptom of menopause, with some women reporting issues with concentration or memory lapses throughout their menopausal years. Other symptoms can also include changes in the vaginal and urinary tract lining – for many women, this can result in discomfort, requiring treatment in order to reduce the impact of declining oestrogen levels.

Changes to sexual libido can also follow on perimenopause’s heels, with some women reporting discomfort during intercourse. 

Alongside these symptoms, menopause can also heighten your risk of developing several chronic illnesses, which can result in the need to monitor for more specific symptoms. Your doctor can be a powerful source of support in understanding which symptoms may point to underlying health problems that may otherwise be masked by menopause’s impact. 

Experiencing erratic symptoms? Your experience is your own

One of the challenges that can come with finding support throughout menopause is how individual each experience can be. The intensity and duration of symptoms can change significantly from woman to woman, with external factors (including genetics, lifestyle, and health statuses) contributing to these individual outcomes. 

With so many factors to consider, it’s important to pay close attention to your own experience of menopause, noting your specific symptoms and sharing that information with your healthcare providers.

Managing your menopausal symptoms

Understanding the range of menopausal symptoms, and the impact they can have on our daily lives, is a significant step towards building long-term management options. Common management techniques are likely to include:

• Following a menopause-friendly diet that prioritises vitamins, nutrients, and natural food sources that can reduce the impact of symptoms
• Reviewing medical options, including hormone replacement therapy and alternative treatment pathways
• Following a regular exercise regiment that’s designed to support your body through these physical changes
• Seeking the support of health professionals, including mental health professionals, to build in supportive structures for each specific symptom
• Taking part in a support group as a source of encouragement, insight, and community
• Prioritising sleep, rest, and a healthy daily routine that aims to reduce stress levels
• Practising mindfulness
• Considering supplements that may be beneficial to your individual health needs
• Limiting caffeine and alcohol, which can exacerbate symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats
• Making sure you’re staying hydrated by drinking enough water every day, which can directly reduce the impact of bloating or dryness

While these areas are a great place to focus your efforts, some will be more effective for specific women than others. This is thanks to the large role personal factors play in individual experiences, making many of these modifications more suitable to particular menopause experiences. If you’re experiencing menopause symptoms that are causing disruption to your daily health, wellbeing, or making it difficult for you to meet your daily demands, working with a medical practitioner is crucial to finding personalised treatments for your individual needs.

You’ll also likely experience continued fluctuations in how intensely menopausal symptoms impact you. By paying close attention to your ongoing menopause journey, you can build a better understanding of where you’re at on your menopausal timeline, as well as what may be ahead.

Conclusion

The symptoms of menopause can bring discomfort, irritation, pain, and disruption – but with careful and strategic support, their impact can be minimised as much as possible. 

Entering into menopause doesn’t mean you need to live in the constant ebb and flow of its symptoms. Reach out to the Australian Menopause Centre today to find the support you need for confidence, clarity, and peace throughout your menopausal journey.