Looking to understand menopause better? This article covers the 34 most common symptoms of menopause, from hot flushes and night sweats to joint pain and depression.

Key takeaways

• Menopause symptoms can last for years and affect women differently.
• While 20% of women experience severe symptoms, 20% have none at all, and the remaining 60% have mild to moderate symptoms.
• Symptoms can range from physical to emotional and cognitive.
• Seeking help from a doctor is important for managing symptoms and improving quality of life.
• Menopause treatment options are available to help alleviate symptoms.

Every woman is impacted by menopause in one way or another. Menopause happens when a woman has not menstruated for 12 months. This results in a change in hormonal changes which produce an array of symptoms, affecting all women differently.

The average age Australian women enter menopause is at approximately 51 years of age. Before their final period, a woman may experience several years of fluctuating hormonal changes that is known as perimenopause.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

While every woman experiences menopause differently, there are many commonly shared symptoms. The statistics show that 20% of women have severe symptoms, 20% have no symptoms, and the remaining 60% have mild to moderate symptoms. These symptoms range from physical to emotional.

It’s important to seek help from your health professional if you’re experiencing any symptoms or side effects related to menopause.

Common menopause symptoms include:

1. Irregular periods

Many women experience a change in their menstrual cycles well before menopause occurs. This is an early symptom. The decline of oestrogen and progesterone in ovulation may become irregular or not occur at all.

2. Hot flushes

Hot flushes/flashes are incredibly common, with studies showing up to 85% of women experiencing them. Their severity and frequency differ among women, with the severity often increasing as the woman approaches menopause and then slowly improving post menopause. While the exact cause is unknown, researchers hypothesise that the thermoregulatory system narrows and resets in association with the changes in oestrogen.

3. Night sweats

Night sweats are hot flushes that occur during the night. Some women find they can be so severe they need to change their sheets at night, or their sleep is severely disrupted.

4. Sleep disturbances

While sleep problems increase with age, menopause further complicates the issue. Many women have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. While hormones may contribute to the issue, they aren’t the whole picture.

Many women still have sleep problems despite having hormone treatment. Mood disorders and poor sleep hygiene can contribute to this issue.

5. Mood swings

Women are more at risk of experiencing mood disorders like anxiety or depression during their menopause transition. Many women experience emotional symptoms such as anxiety, difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, teariness, low mood and mood swings.

6. Low libido

The change in hormones, particularly low oestrogen levels can affect a woman’s libido during menopause. This can significantly impact quality of life and her intimate relationships. Along with the changes in hormones, social factors can impact libido such as lack of work, stress, divorce, lack of partner and decreasing health.

7. Vaginal dryness and atrophy

Low levels of oestrogen can result in vaginal dryness and vaginal atrophy, resulting in the vagina becoming fragile and easily irritated. The lack of oestrogen also results in the bladder and vaginal tissues becoming thin and friable. These symptoms can be distressing and can lead to painful sex, incontinence, recurrent urinary infections and prolapse.

8. Weight gain

Menopausal weight gain is a common symptom. Many women feel that they put on belly fat more easily around this time. One of the reasons for this is the relationship between declining oestrogen levels and insulin resistance. On average, postmenopausal women require 300 calories less than perimenopausal women. But this is unique to the individual.

Australian Menopause Society states that women aged between 45-55 years of age, gain on average 0.5kg per year. Weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight can become more challenging at this time.

The changes in sex hormones lead to changes in both cortisol (stress hormone) and insulin, both of which can result in changes in fat distribution, with fat often increasing around the abdomen. Women may also notice changes in body composition, with decreased muscle mass and increased body fat.

9. Memory problems

Many women report memory problems during menopause, particularly verbal memory. This commonly presents as trouble remembering verbal information and names. One study of 205 menopausal women found that 72% had reported subjective memory problems.

10. Overactive bladder

Many women find that their bladder habits may change, resulting in symptoms of urinary urgency, frequency and incontinence.

11. Headaches and migraines

Headaches and migraines during perimenopause and menopause are often linked to the fluctuations of oestrogen and progesterone. Hormonal migraines may or may not present with an aura, but often are accompanied by sensitivity to light, vomiting and nausea. Poor sleep, excessive alcohol, caffeine and sugar can all contribute to worsening headaches during this time.

12. Breast tenderness or pain

Breast pain is a common symptom experienced during the menopause transition. It may come and go or be more constant. It is often worse prior to menstruation.

13. Fatigue

Fatigue is a common complaint, and can reduce a woman’s quality of life during this time. This is commonly associated with perceived stress.

14. Irritability

Many women experience irritability, often presenting as lack of patience and frustration. Many women may experience this in relation to mood swings during the menopause transition. It’s been hypothesised this may be due to the fluctuating hormones affecting serotonin levels.

Irritability is often a sign of emotional stress or strain. Menopause often occurs around a time of great transition culturally, with ageing parents or growing children, increased responsibility at work and other responsibilities. Menopause can offer women a symbolic time to review her choices and learn new coping skills.

15. Joint pain

One study found that 56% of their cohort had joint and muscular discomfort and pain, which was more present in postmenopausal women, compared to perimenopausal women. The joint pain can be severe enough to limit a woman’s exercise ability, serving to potentially make the joint mobility worse.

16. Anxiety

Women may experience elevated anxiety and stress. Those with a history of mood disorders and those with premature menopause may be at a higher risk of developing anxiety during the menopause transition.

17. Osteoporosis

The decrease in oestrogen can result in women being at a greater risk for osteoporosis, particularly women who experience premature menopause.

18. Paresthesias

Paresthesia is often described as numbness, burning or pins and needles in the extremities and is experienced by many menopausal women. This is often described as the feeling of spiders crawling under the skin. Some women report balance or dexterity issues due to numbness.

19. Itchiness

Itchiness and dry or sensitive skin is a common complaint. Fluctuating hormone levels during the menopause transition may cause sensitive, dry skin which can result in itchiness.

One study with 278 female participants reported that 42% of premenopausal women experienced skin sensitivity before and during their period, and 32% of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women reported it post menopause.

20. Digestive issues

Many women experience gastrointestinal symptoms like heartburn, gas, changes in bowel patterns and abdominal pain. This is due to the changes in oestrogen levels, as oestrogen helps to maintain the tone of the oesophageal sphincter. Studies show there may be an association between menopause and changes in bowel function, but more research is needed.

21. Electric shock sensations

Electric shock sensations and heightened sensitivity are felt by some women, often accompanied by a hot flush. The sensation is often brief but painful. More research is needed to determine the exact cause, but it’s likely related to the changes in hormones affecting the cardiovascular and nervous systems.

22. Dizziness

Dizziness and lightheadedness may be felt intermittently by women undergoing the menopause transition. One study found an association between anxiety and dizziness for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Other potential contributors are hormonal fluctuations affecting the cardiovascular system and blood sugar balance.

23. Urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence is a common and distressing symptom experienced by menopausal women due to the changes in vaginal tissues that occur with the drop in oestrogen. It affects over 50% of postmenopausal women, with this number increasing year on year.

24. Depression

The hormonal, social and sleep changes during the menopause transition put women at greater risk of depression. During perimenopause, studies show women are three times at risk for experiencing a major depressive episode compared to postmenopause. Having a history of depression increases a woman’s likelihood of developing it again during this time.

25. Heart palpitations

Evidence shows up to 42% of perimenopausal and 54% of postmenopausal women suffer from cardiac palpitations. The exact cause is unclear. Some research shows associations with race, physical activity, quality of life, sleep and the presence of vasomotor symptoms like hot flushes.

26. Panic attacks

As well as anxiety, some women experience panic attacks — unexpected episodes of fear and anxiety with physical symptoms such as breathlessness, heart palpitations and chest pain. They are thought to be due to decreasing levels of oestrogen and progesterone.

27. Hair loss

Hair loss on the scalp is a distressing symptom for many women. Some experience general thinning, others have more isolated thinning at the crown of the head. Along with the lack of oestrogen, other contributing factors include genetics, iron deficiency, iodine deficiency, stress, age and medications.

28. Body odour

Many women report changes in body odour during the menopause transition. Some possible causes include higher levels of testosterone, increased sweating with hot flushes and night sweats and changes in sense of smell.

29. Burning mouth

Women may experience a burning mouth, in the absence of any oral pathology. It’s often described as burning, tingling, scalding and numbness in the mouth. The front part of the tongue is the most commonly reported area.

30. Muscle tension

As women go through menopause, experiencing muscular aches and pains becomes increasingly common. As oestrogen impacts the structure and function of muscles, many women report muscle and strength loss. The drop in oestrogen often results in the rise in cortisol levels, which can make women more sensitive to pain and tension.

31. Gum problems

Many women experience gums that are inflamed, red and may bleed. It’s also common to have increased sensitivity to different temperatures and tastes. The exact cause of these symptoms is unknown, but it’s important to seek help from your dentist.

32. Bloating

Along with the other gastrointestinal symptoms, many women experience an increase in bloating. This is likely due to the declining oestrogen levels. It may be with or without pain, and in those with and without irritable bowel syndrome.

33. Brittle nails

As oestrogen is responsible for hydrating our tissues, nails can become dehydrated, leaving them weak and brittle. Other common causes include medical and vitamin deficiencies, age and trauma.

34. Difficulty concentrating and brain fog

Along with memory problems, difficulty concentrating and brain fog are more cognitive symptoms women may experience. Research suggests that oestrogen has a protective effect on the central nervous system. These types of symptoms are generally more common post-menopause, compared to pre-menopause.

If you’re going through your menopause transition and you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, please seek help from your doctor. There are many management options out there to help improve your quality of life.

Vively is a metabolic health app that can help women undergoing the menopause transition improve their quality of life. The Vively app integrates with continuous glucose monitors (CGM) to help women understand how their lifestyle is impacting their blood sugar levels. This, combined with in-app education and support can help women improve their symptoms. Chat to your doctor about whether Vively may suit you.