Menopause Symptoms
The Signs of Menopause Appear Long Before It Does
Menopause officially occurs after 12 consecutive missed menstrual periods. But you'll recognize the symptoms long before then. The time before menopause, known as perimenopause, is actually when you'll experience most of the signs and symptoms associated with menopause.
Symptoms and signs have subtle differences, but an easy way to tell the two apart is that symptoms can only be recognized by the person who experiences them. For example, pain is a symptom—it's a sensation only the person experiencing it can feel. Signs, on the other hand, can be observed by someone else, like your doctor. Weight gain is a sign.
The signs and symptoms of menopause are caused by the ovaries' erratic changes in sex hormone production. Estrogen is the most important female sex hormone.
As you approach menopause, estrogen levels generally decline, but they can fluctuate at times. Some days they may spike; other days, they may be low. This is what causes the common signs and symptoms associated with menopause, such as:
- irregular menstrual periods
- hot flashes
- vaginal dryness
- sleep problems
- mood swings
- increased fat around the abdomen
- thinning hair
- decreased breast fullness
Though these are all normal symptoms of perimenopause, you should make sure to have your regularly scheduled doctor visits during this time. Maintaining regular contact with your doctor throughout all the stages of menopause—perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause—is the best defense against any possible complications associated with menopause.
While you'll likely experience some symptoms of menopause, you shouldn't consider it a disease. When most people experience symptoms, they think something must be medically wrong with them—that they have some disease or disorder. Of course, this isn't the case with menopause. Remember, menopause is a naturally occurring process that every woman experiences.
