Menopause is a phase every woman goes through. It usually starts between age 45 and 55 and lasts a few months. During this time, a woman’s body undergoes many changes. With menopause, women come to the end of their reproductive years and cannot bear children naturally anymore. Their ovarian follicles stop functioning, blood estrogen levels decrease, and periods stop. The process affects a woman’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being and triggers many symptoms.

1. Changes in period cycles
Disruption in period cycles is the first and most noticeable sign of menopause. One’s frequency of periods may increase or decrease. Women may experience a delay and get periods every 40 days or more. In rare cases, some may get their periods every 20 days. A few may not get periods for many months, and they gradually stop.

2. Changes in bleeding patterns
A woman may experience abnormal or heavy bleeding during their periods. If the abnormal bleeding happens for more than one cycle, one should contact a doctor, as it can lead to anemia.

3. Difficulty during intercourse
Women may complain of pain and experience vaginal tightness during intercourse. These are common symptoms during the transition period. One could also have unusual burning and itching after intercourse. A doctor may recommend hormonal treatments to treat these conditions.

4. Changes in sleeping patterns
Women may experience short-term insomnia for three days or have chronic insomnia that lasts up to three months. Waking up suddenly and being unable to go back to sleep are other common symptoms to watch for.

5. Hot flushes
A hot flush is a sudden feeling of warmth in the upper body, face, neck, and chest. Hot flushes last between 30 seconds to five minutes. They could be accompanied by reddening of the skin and sweating. Some women may also experience an increase in heart rate. In addition, one may feel chill after a hot flush episode caused by the sudden heat loss.

6. Mood changes
Fatigue, irritation, and short-term bouts of sadness are common as estrogen levels fall. While many women say these symptoms improve as they accept the changes in their bodies, they get worse in others. If mood changes do not normalize, one should consult a doctor or a therapist for treatment.

7. Stress
While several life situations cause stress, some women may feel stressed without apparent cause. These symptoms improve gradually on their own, but some women may need help. A doctor can help people understand the changes and offer effective techniques to manage the stress menopause causes in them.

These symptoms we discussed could begin months or, in rare cases, many years before menopause and continue after menopause. While the symptoms of natural menopause are more intense, women who have surgery-induced menopause may see a gradual onset of their symptoms. Some symptoms of menopause may not require treatment or expert intervention. They include hair loss, headaches, migraines, the appearance of facial hair, stiffness in joints, low self-esteem, tinnitus, frequent urinary tract infections, and bone pain.