Female Menopause: What Are The Symptoms?Every woman goes through menopause and as each woman is unique, you may experience some symptoms of female menopause that your friend may not. For some, menopause is a nightmare and for others it is a fairly manageable ride but one thing is true for all women - they all dread the word 'menopause'. This fear of the unavoidable phase of a woman's life can be alleviated to a certain extent by understanding the various symptoms of female menopause. So, let us know about the common symptoms of menopause experienced by women.
Irregular Periods One of the first changes that you may notice in your life related to menopause is the change in your menstrual cycle. Your periods would become irregular and very unpredictable. So, you will have to be prepared for your period at all times. Further, your period may be longer one month and shorter the next time. So, don't worry, lighter or heavier periods are normal.
Hot/Cold Flashes and Night Sweats You may experience sudden warmth or coldness flooding your body and this may lead to a lot of undesirable sweating. The sweating is more prominent in the upper half of your body. In fact, you may just wake up in the middle of the night feeling very hot in spite of the air conditioning. But relax, this are most likely caused by the hormonal and biochemical changes going on in your body on the onset of menopause.
Vaginal Dryness The lowering of the estrogen (female hormone) levels in your body lead to the thinning of the tissues lining your vagina. Your vagina also becomes very dry and less elastic. This vaginal dryness can in turn lead to itching, irritation and/or pain during sexual intercourse. You also become more susceptible to vaginal infections.
Urge Incontinence Female menopause is also characterized by the loss of some volition over our muscles. This is especially irritating when we consider the muscles lining the urinary tract. Many women find themselves in embarrassing situations because they could not control their urge to urinate. This leads to leaking. Further, women also become more prone to infections of the urinary tract on the onset of menopause.
Emotional Ups and Downs Almost all women going through menopause suffer from frequent bouts of depression and lose a lot of their sense of self. They also suffer from frequent mood swings that can lead to increased relationship problems. Besides the above mentioned symptoms of female menopause, some women also complain of increase forgetfulness. They also say that they experienced heavy weight gain during their menopause and found it increasingly difficult to lose those extra pounds. Further, the risk of osteoporosis and heart diseases also increases during menopause. In conclusion, symptoms of female menopause differ from one woman to another but if you are experiencing some of the common symptoms of female menopause, consult your physician and find out for sure whether you have entered the menopause phase of your life or not. |