- Menopause presents itself in many forms, it important to know the symptoms so you know what to look out for
- Each symptom has its own manner of being dealt with through diet and lifestyle changes and supplementing ingredients that are prone to work
- These 34 symptoms range in category; from hormonal and immune health to cognitive function and metabolic syndrome, read on to learn them all!
Headaches that feel like your head is about to explode? Sex drive is at an all-time low? Tossing and turning for hours each night? Feeling “bleh” all the time, for no apparent reason?
Yes, menopause can do all of that – and more. Menopause is a challenging time in many women’s lives, with a host of symptoms that range from mildly irritating to extremely uncomfortable.
Research has identified that there are 34 typical symptoms of menopause. They all result from the gradual decline in the production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Of course, each female body is unique, which means that every woman experiences menopause differently. You won’t notice the same changes as your friends. Your sister will have her own unique experience. But many symptoms are similar.
Menopause happens when you stop menstruating and are no longer able to get pregnant. If you don’t menstruate for 12 months (without spotting or even light bleeding), this means you’ve entered menopause.
Let’s now look into the 34 symptoms of menopause.
Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause
Vasomotor symptoms, or VMS, are, simply put, symptoms related to how blood vessels dilate or constrict. Dilated blood vessels result in changes in body temperature, such as hot flashes and sweating. (1) These symptoms are one of the hallmarks of menopause: 75% of menopausal women experience them.
1. Hot flashes:
Sudden estrogen drops, which are typical for menopause, result in constricted blood vessels and increased body temperature. Hot flashes, and hot flushes, may feel like a burning or hot sensation on your face, neck, head, or chest. You might also experience skin redness, if your hot flashes are severe.
2. Night sweats:
When hot flashes happen at night, you might wake up drenched in sweat. You’re not alone in this: three in every four menopausal women suffer from night sweats. Hot flashes and night sweats may also result in restlessness, poor sleep quality, which can leave you feeling tired, and irritated the next day. (2,3)
What’s the best supplement for Hot flashes and Night Sweats?
In a 2010 study, 26% benefited from a reduction in night sweats thanks to the thermoregulatory effects of Black Cohosh.
Sleep Problems
Between 40 to 60% of menopausal women experience sleep-related problems, such as insomnia, inability to sleep for a long time, and poor sleep quality.
3. Nocturnal awakenings:
Night sweats and hot flashes might wake you up at night, and leave you feeling restless and tired.
4. Insomnia:
Headaches, anxiety, or excessive sweating due to hot flashes may lead to insomnia – especially if your hot flashes are severe.
5. Fatigue:
Feeling fatigued, tiredness, and restlessness is a common occurrence for most women who go through menopause. (4,5,6)
What’s the best supplement for sleep issed?
Sleep issues tend to occur due to high cortisol and then the added anxiety of not being able to sleep (what a cycle!). Ashwagandha has proven to help alleviate stress while lowering cortisol.
D-Mannose + Cranberry
Our Happy V® D-Mannose + Cranberry was created for anyone who is experiencing symptoms related to Urinary Tract Infections. Eliminate the pain, burning sensation, constant need to urinate and vaginal irritation.
Bacterial resistance – Ability of bacteria to resist the action of medication intended to kill or stop it.
Dysbiosis – Imbalance in microbial flora
Facultative bacteria – Bacteria that can grow with or without oxygen
Anaerobic bacteria – Bacteria that can grow in the absence of oxygen and are capable of causing disease.
- Thurston RC, Joffe H. Vasomotor symptoms and menopause: findings from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2011;38(3):489-501. doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2011.05.006
- Woods, N. F. & Mitchell, E. S. Symptoms during the perimenopause: prevalence, severity, trajectory, and significance in women’s lives. Am. J. Med. 118, 14–24 (2005).
- Kravitz, H. M. et al. An actigraphy study of sleep and pain in midlife women: the study of women’s health across the nation sleep study. Menopause 22, 710–718 (2015).
- Joffe, H., Massler, A. & Sharkey, K. M. Evaluation and management of sleep disturbance during the menopause transition. Semin. Reprod. Med. 28, 404–421 (2010).
- Pien, G. W., Sammel, M. D., Freeman, E. W., Lin, H. & DeBlasis, T. L. Predictors of sleep quality in women in the menopausal transition. Sleep 31, 991–999 (2008).
- Baker, F. C., Willoughby, A. R., Sassoon, S. A., Colrain, I. M. & de Zambotti, M. Insomnia in women approaching menopause: beyond perception. Psychoneuroendocrinology 60, 96–104 (2015).
- Weber, M. T., Mapstone, M., Staskiewicz, J. & Maki, P. M. Reconciling subjective memory complaints with objective memory performance in the menopausal transition. Menopause 19, 735–741 (2012).
- Medic, G., Wille, M. & Hemels, M. E. Short- and long-term health consequences of sleep disruption. Nat. Sci. Sleep 9, 151–161 (2017).
- Bromberger, J. T. et al. Depressive symptoms during the menopausal transition: the study of women’s health across the nation (SWAN). J. Affect. Disord. 103, 267–272 (2007).
- Woods, N. F. et al. Depressed mood during the menopausal transition and early postmenopause: observations from the Seattle midlife women’s health study. Menopause 15, 223–232 (2008).
- Weber, M. T., Maki, P. M. & McDermott, M. P. Cognition & mood in perimenopause: a systematic review & meta-analysis. J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. 142, 90–98 (2014).
- Bromberger, J. T. et al. Does risk for anxiety increase during the menopausal transition? Study of women’s health across the nation (SWAN). Menopause 20, 488–495 (2013).
- Ripa, P. et al. Migraine in menopausal women: a systematic review. Int. J. Womens Health 7, 773–782 (2015).
- Davis, S. R. et al. Understanding weight gain at menopause. Climacteric 15, 419–429 (2012).
- Muka, T. et al. Association of age at onset of menopause and time since onset of menopause with cardiovascular outcomes, intermediate vascular traits, and all-cause mortality. JAMA Cardiol. 1, 767–776 (2016).
- Nappi, R. E. & Kokot-Kierepa, M. Vaginal health: insights, views and attitudes (VIVA) — results from an international survey. Climacteric 15, 36–44 (2012).
- Robinson, D. & Cardozo, L. D. The role of estrogens in female lower urinary tract dysfunction. Urology 6, 45–51 (2003).
- Nappi, P. R. et al. Female sexual dysfunction (FSD): prevalence and impact on quality of life (QoL). Maturitas 94, 87–91 (2016)
- Manolagas, S. C., O’Brien, C. A. & Almeida, M. The role of estrogen and androgen receptors in bone health and disease. Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. 9, 699–712 (2013).
- van Staa, T. P., Dennison, E. M., Leufkens, H. G. & Cooper, C. Epidemiology of fractures in England and Wales. Bone 29, 517–522 (2001).
- Herskovitz, I. & Tosti, A. Female pattern hair loss. Int. J. Endocrinol. Metab. 11, e986 (2013).
- Harlow, S. D. et al. Executive summary of the stages of reproductive aging workshop +10: addressing the unfinished agenda of staging reproductive aging. Menopause 19, 387–395 (2012)
In order to balance your microflora, you need to add the combination of both Probiotics and Prebiotics to your diet.
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In order to balance your microflora, you need to add the combination of both Probiotics and Prebiotics to your diet.