What are the 34 symptoms of menopause? Will experience all of them and how can they impact your life. These are the questions that every woman in her late 40s begins to ask when she starts to experience fluctuating menstrual cycles.
Menopause is a word that can mean relief to some women, but to some, it welcomes a sense of uncertainty about the changes that come with it. This stage does not only mark the end of your monthly periods, but it comes with numerous symptoms that can affect every aspect of your body and mind.
When in your perimenopause phase (the onset of menopause characterized by decreasing oestrogen levels), you may feel a bit nervous about what awaits you. This is a natural feeling that every woman entering menopause experiences. Do not worry though, we’ll address the 34 symptoms of menopause common to most women to help you prepare to navigate this phase of your life.
What Are The 34 Symptoms of Menopause?
Perhaps you might be wondering why the magical number 34. Well, there’s little known about the origin of this number; some people claim the symptoms are 34, others 66, while others say 100. What matters isn’t the number, but the understanding that menopause affects the body, mind, and emotions in various mysterious ways.
Perhaps you might be wondering why the magical number 34. Well, there’s little known about the origin of this number; some people claim the symptoms are 34, others 66, while others say 100. What matters isn’t the number, but the understanding that menopause affects the body, mind, and emotions in various mysterious ways.
Some of these symptoms are well known and studied extensively, such as insomnia and hot flashes. Others are not well understood or haven’t been proven to be caused by menopause. So, let’s delve into what are the 34 symptoms of menopause age.
- Hot Flashes
Hot flashes are the hallmark of menopause symptoms and they often feel like sudden, intense heat waves that leave you drenched in sweat. They can start suddenly without a warning and can cause serious discomfort. About 80% of women of menopausal age are affected by hot flashes. - Night Sweats
Think of night sweats that happen while you’re asleep. They can prompt you to wake in the middle of the night or morning with sheets soaked in sweat. - Irregular Periods
You’ll start to notice your periods are irregular during perimenopause–sometimes lighter, at times heavier and most often unpredictable. This is just your body winding down its reproductive function. - Vaginal Dryness
in answering the question “What are the 34 symptoms of menopause?” the answer cannot be complete without addressing vaginal dryness. That’s because it also affects your pleasure experience during intercourse—sex can feel painful as vaginal tissues lose elasticity and moisture. - Decreased Libido
Your reducing hormone level may also cause you to lack interest in sexual intercourse. This is often as a result of physical symptoms such as general fatigue and vaginal dryness. - Mood Swings
With fluctuating hormone levels, you find yourself on an emotional rollercoaster. You might become more irritable, anxious, and prone to tears without explanation. - Memory Lapses
“Where did I put my phone?” if you’ve asked yourself such questions too many times of late, it could be because of the cognitive effects of menopause. Again, this symptom results from the lowering of oestrogen hormone levels, which affects the brain. - Difficulty Concentrating
With memory lapses affecting your day, a lack of concentration may also be evident. You might find it harder than normal to focus on tasks because of the fluctuation of oestrogen and progesterone. - Depression
Your risk of depression and other clinical depressive disorders also rises with menopause as you battle other symptoms like hot flashes, insomnia, and memory lapses. If you feel depressed while undergoing menopause, don’t try to battle it alone. Talk to a family member, or friends, or reach out to an expert. - Fatigue
Do you sometimes feel exhausted, even after a full night’s sleep? Menopausal fatigue can make even the simplest tasks seem difficult. - Insomnia
The cause of your fatigue will mostly be due to a lack of good sleep at night. Well, insomnia stems from hormonal changes and night sweats. More than 50% of women under menopause or perimenopause have sleep disturbance, which severely impacts their normal daytime functioning. - Irritability
In some women feelings of depression and anxiety may be absent, but they can become easily irritated. This symptom is tied to insomnia, which causes mood changes, such as irritability and ease of anger. - Weight Gain
Lack of a good night’s sleep can welcome another menopausal symptom; weight gain. As you experience changes in hormone levels, your metabolism can slow down, causing you to gain weight, especially in the abdomen region. - Thinning of Hair
What are the 34 symptoms of menopause? Which of these can impact your confidence? That would be the thinning of hair. As we all know, we value our hair so much that it’s part of what makes us beautiful. But when oestrogen levels drop during menopause, hair becomes thinner and, in some women, it can cause hair loss. - Dry Skin
Hormone level drops also cause your skin to lose the ability to retain moisture. This can leave it feeling dry and less supple. - Itchy Skin
With the drying of the skin, it might become itchy, especially around the legs, arms, and back. - Tingling Extremities
Other than having itchy skin, you may also experience a tingling sensation in your feet and hands. The tingling is connected to reduced hormone levels, affecting blood circulation. - Joint Pain
Oestrogen plays an important role in reducing inflammation, so once it starts declining, you experience achy joints, especially around the hands and knees. - Brittle Nails
Just like the skin and hair are affected, the nails might also become more brittle and easily break. - Breast Tenderness
Wondering what are the 34 symptoms of early menopause? One of the symptoms is that your breasts might become tender and sore. This is another sign of reduced female sex hormones during perimenopause. - Headaches
If you’ve had a history of migraines or headaches, hormonal changes may trigger them back. Oestrogen and progesterone are also important in regulating chemicals in the brain that can cause headaches. - Dizziness
With hormonal fluctuations, your body might also lose its balance, resulting in occasional light-headedness or dizziness. - Anxiety
Again, oestrogen and progesterone hormones are important in women’s bodies, and their decrease can result in anxiety. You might experience nervous anticipation, feelings of dread, or fear, even when there’s nothing worth worrying about. - Heart Palpitations
Some women may experience increased heartbeats or skipping beats. This symptom is often related to hot flashes and anxiety. - Panic Attacks
As anxiety level increases, it can sometimes manifest as a panic attack or panic disorder. The symptoms of panic attacks can include dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations. - Osteoporosis
With reduced oestrogen levels, the bones might become less dense, making them more fragile and increasing the risk of osteoporosis. - Bloating
What are the 34 symptoms of menopause? Which among them affects your gastrointestinal tract? Increased water retention and gas production can cause you to feel more bloated than normal. - Gum Problems
Also, your oral health might be affected by declining oestrogen levels. Many women under menopause report increased bleeding or gum sensitivity. - Burning Tongue
The burning tongue symptom is a lesser reported symptom. However, some women still experience a burning sensation on their tongue, often tied to reduced hormone levels. - Body Odor Changes
With increased sweating and hormonal shifts, your body odour may start to change. - Urinary Incontinence
Reduced oestrogen levels can cause the pelvic floor muscles to weaken, leading to urinary incontinence. This may happen especially when sneezing, coughing, or laughing. It’s nothing to be ashamed of because more than 50% of women experience urinary incontinence in their postmenopause phase. - Allergies
In some women, they may start experiencing new allergies, while for some, the existing ones can worsen. This is majorly due to reduced oestrogen levels, causing the increased production of histamine. - Increased Facial Hair
Normally, the female body has some lower levels of male hormones (androgens). But when oestrogen starts to reduce, these male hormones may become more dominant. This can cause an increase in facial hair. - Digestive Issues
The last symptom on our list of “What are the 34 symptoms of menopause age?” is digestive system issues. This might be evident through common indigestion issues, constipation, and reflux.
When Do the Menopause Symptoms Kick In?
There’s no specific time when the symptoms start to manifest as every woman’s body is unique to them. However, as menopause usually starts from around 45 to 55 years, this is the time you’re more likely to experience the onset of the symptoms. Your menstrual cycle may become irregular and eventually come to an end as your oestrogen and progesterone hormone levels lower.
Perimenopause is the stage that welcomes the actual menopause and is the time that your female sex hormones start to decrease. By the time you enter menopause, you will no longer be menstruating as ovulation has stopped. After having no menstruation for one year, you’re regarded to have entered the postmenopause phase.
Conclusion
Most of the symptoms of menopause are a result of fluctuating levels of oestrogen and progesterone hormones. This means that while hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help reverse them, you don’t have to start the procedure right away to gain relief.
Working closely with your menopause health professional, you can discover other procedures that can relieve the symptoms, such as hypnotherapy. It’s a medically proven process that helps manage stubborn symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, and hot flashes. However, your menopause specialist doctor can help you determine if it’s suitable for you. Book your free consultation with Dr Nadira from Pause and Co. Healthcare today to start your journey of relief from menopausal symptoms.