Menopause is inevitable. Every menstruator has to go through menopause at one point or the other. However, while everyone knows about the concept, many don’t know anything more than that. We’re aware that it signals the end of one’s menstrual cycles and has its onset around 40-50 years of age. But that’s about it.
There are several signs of menopause you shouldn’t ignore because menopause comes with its own set of challenges. It can bring several painful symptoms such as vasomotor symptoms, vaginal dryness, decreased libido, insomnia, fatigue and joint pain. Pre-empting is the first step towards managing menopause better. Here are the signs of menopause you shouldn’t be ignoring:
Persistent Bloating
Bloating is one of the most common symptoms that people who menstruate go through. In most cases, this symptom is ignored as bloating, as something women are used to dealing with during their menstrual cycles. However, bloating during menopause is different. Bloating may occur during the perimenopause or menopause period due to the change of hormones your body is going through.
One check to identify bloating as a sign of menopause is by keeping a track of how long you’re feeling bloated. For example, if you’re feeling bloated throughout the day, during your sleep, and even after you wake up, it is important to get it checked. In objective terms, anything over two weeks can be a symptom of menopause.
Headaches
One of the lesser-known symptoms of menopause is headaches. Headaches are really easy to miss, and many people who experience them rarely attribute them to menopause at the first go. Another reason why headaches aren’t associated with menopause is because of the belief that women are more prone to headaches than men.
However, menopausal headaches have been known to be caused by a sudden drop or rise in estrogen levels, which is common during menopause. This change in hormones can turn into a spasm causing tension at the back of the neck and a subsequent headache. Therefore, if you’re facing a never-ending headache, and have ruled out the common factors such as stress or dehydration, it is important to get this checked out with a doctor to make sure it’s not linked to menopause.
Hot Flashes
This is one of the most common symptoms of menopause. However, due to its fleeting nature, the sensation isn’t linked with menopause by most. Hot flashes refer to a warm flush that starts in your chest or faces and makes its way downwards into the body. Their frequency can vary from an hourly sensation to one as infrequent as once every 3-4 days.
Hot flashes are said to occur when the change in hormone levels makes the body’s hypothalamus more sensitive to changes in body temperature. The hypothalamus is like the body’s own little thermostat. When it starts to think the body is too warm, it sets off a chain of events to cool the body down. This chain of events is referred to as a hot flash. While hot flashes are common, they’re also a symptom of menopause. If you find hot flashes interfering with your sleep or daily activities, it is time to see a doctor.
Longer Menstrual Cycles
Another symptom of menopause can be an extended menstrual cycle. This may be accompanied by a decrease in the time between consecutive menstrual cycles or a heavier-than-normal flow. Many women discount these minute changes, putting them down as a one-off incident. However, if you find your menstrual cycle lasting more than seven days, or you get your next period in less than 24-28 days, it is best to get it checked by a doctor.
Change In Cholesterol Levels
No one actually makes the association between cholesterol levels and menopause, but tracking it can actually help you in identifying in advance when menopause hits you. The perimenopause period may result in an undesirable change in cholesterol level, particularly the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol or the ‘bad’ cholesterol, as it is better known. The decline in estrogen levels during this period also reduces the good cholesterol in the body or high-density lipoprotein (HDL), thus increasing the risk of heart disease.
Increased Frequency Of Vaginal Infection
Many women, when they get vaginal infections, don’t consider menopause to be a factor. However, in reality, the reason behind an increased frequency of vaginal infections faced by women can also be menopause. The diminishing estrogen levels result in a decrease in lubrication levels, thus increasing the chance of infection. A decrease in estrogen secretion has been proven to increase the chances of encouraging disease-causing bacteria as well.
While menopause is inevitable, it is important to be conscious of the symptoms so as to ensure that it can be managed in the best way possible. Understanding the symptoms of menopause and how it works can also help in easing the effect it has on one’s life. By being aware of the changes, you can accommodate changes to your lifestyle with the help of your doctor or gynaecologist.
Additionally, in case of severe circumstances, several treatments such as menopausal hormone therapy or hormone replacement therapy can also be looked at. However, before all of that, the first step is to listen to your body and not ignore any signs of menopause.