While dealing with monthly menstruation can seem like a challenge for many women, transitioning out of this phase also has some trials. The majority of women are familiar with the symptoms of PMS and even crippling abdominal cramps, but do you know the symptoms that signal the onset of menopause? Approximately 8 out of 10 women experience menopause before and after their menstrual cycle ceases. Understanding menopausal symptoms and how to deal with them can help make the transition smoothly.
Menopause Symptoms: Different for Everyone
There is no particular set of symptoms that every menstruating person may experience. Did you know women can also experience abdominal pain as the period reaches the end stages? Hence it’s necessary to know how to relieve period cramps for such cases. It can be different for everyone, varying on a scale from mild symptoms that don’t cause much discomfort to extremities that hinder a person’s day-to-day life. Other symptoms can differ from physical, mental, and emotional effects, leaving a substantial impact on this time in your life.
- Common symptoms include:
- Hot flashes where short and heavy bursts of heat are felt on the face, neck, back, and chest, which can make the skin appear flushed and sweaty
- Night sweats where hot flashes caused at night can lead to excessive sweating
- Insomnia and difficulty falling asleep
- A reduced libido
- Memory loss or lowered memory retention and concentration.
- The discomfort experienced during sexual intercourse and vaginal dryness
- Frequent headaches
- Mood swings, anxiety, or depression
- Heart palpitations
- Joint pain and reduced muscle mass
- Frequent Urinary Tract Infections
Dealing with Menopausal Symptoms
Dealing with hot flashes and night sweats
If you or someone you know is dealing with regular hot flashes, it can be an uncomfortable experience. However, the steps below can provide menopause hot flash relief:
- Wear light cotton clothes
- Use an ice pack to cool down
- Keep the bedroom cool before sleeping
- Exercise regularly
- Avoid overly spicy foods, alcohol, or cigarettes
Dealing with mood swings
Some menstruating people experience severe mood swings, depression, and anxiety during the transition into menopause.
Taking a gentle approach to help themselves regulate their mood by resting plenty, exercising, meditating, and including vitamins like B12 can help. They can also take psychological help to deal with the overwhelming emotions that sometimes occur. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is seen as an effective treatment path for irregular mood shifts.
Considering Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
HRT compensates for the hormones depleted during the menopause transition. The majority of the symptoms result from low estrogen levels, which HRT replaces along with progesterone that will protect the womb lining. HRT has proven to show highly effective results at alleviating symptoms of menopause and is prescribed in the form of skin patches, implants, oral tablets, or topical gels.
Common Symptoms Of Menopause
When you know what a person experiences during their transition into menopause, you can prepare for the changes to come. You can also be ready to remedy the symptoms quickly without suffering too much discomfort.
