The transition is often accompanied by menopausal symptoms. From hot flashes to osteoporosis, it can all happen. We list the most common symptoms for you and explain what you can do yourself to limit these symptoms as much as possible..
Typical menopausal symptoms
- Hot flashes
Hot flashes are one of the most common complaints during menopause. The duration and number of hot flashes during the day can vary greatly and differ from woman to woman. You suddenly get a heat attack, which often makes your face, neck and chest turn red. This can be accompanied by sweating, palpitations, tingling, nausea and pain in the limbs. (Flush Redux: 911 for hot flashes)
- Gloomy feelings
Do you suddenly start crying? Then you should not worry, because that is completely normal during menopause. You can experience feelings of loneliness, depression and irritability because of your hormones.
- Take care of your skin
No skincare routine yet? Then it's high time you start working on it. The amount of estrogen changes during menopause, which can make your skin drier and looser. This can cause wrinkles. In addition, your skin becomes more vulnerable to external influences such as dirty particles in the air.
- Head hair
In addition to the skin, it is also important to take good care of your hair. You run the risk of your hair becoming thin and limp if the blood flow of the small blood vessels is not stimulated. Massage the scalp so that you have good blood flow.
- Body hair
Women produce both female and male hormones. However, during menopause, women produce less female hormones, but still the same amount of male hormones. This can cause you to have more hair growth on your legs, upper lip or chin.
- Fluctuations in weight
The metabolism in your body slows down as you get older. As a result, you may gain a few pounds and it may be interesting to pay extra attention to healthy and wholesome food.
- Change in the breasts
The connective tissue becomes looser and your breasts become less firm, because your mammary gland and fatty tissue change.
- Dry and irritated eyes
You have less tear fluid due to the reduced amount of estrogen and this can cause dry and irritated eyes.
- Vaginal complaints
The mucous membranes of the vagina and urethra can become dry, fragile and thinner due to the reduced amount of estrogen in the body. Infections can develop more easily and sex can be painful and burning.In addition, the balance in the vagina does not recover as quickly, so you need to pay extra attention to your hygiene. (Fem Xtr for vaginal dryness during menopause)
- High blood pressure
Women are less likely to have high blood pressure than men, which is partly due to menstruation. Menstruation is a kind of bloodletting and that stops during menopause, which can cause blood pressure to rise.
- Changing sleep patterns
Menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, sweating and gloomy thoughts can affect your sleep pattern. In addition, you need less sleep as you get older.
- Osteoporosis or bone loss
About ¼ of women have osteoporosis or bone loss during menopause. Your body produces and breaks down bone tissue throughout your life, but after the age of 45 you no longer produce bone tissue and the definitive breakdown begins. Menopause accelerates this process and that is why your bones become more brittle as you get older. Therefore, try to eat calcium-rich foods, exercise sufficiently and do not smoke.
- More trouble with urine loss
The bladder can prolapse because the pelvic floor muscles and supporting tissues relax. Women in menopause can suffer more quickly from a bladder infection because the mucous membranes of the urinary tract become thinner. Result? You can no longer hold your urine for as long and urine leakage can occur when you cough, sneeze or exercise.
Non-typical menopausal symptoms
Non-typical menopausal symptoms are symptoms that women often experience during menopause, but which are not a direct result of hormonal fluctuations.
Examples of non-typical menopausal symptoms include:
- palpitations
- weight gain
- constipation
- joint complaints
- headache
- insomnia
- mood swings
- …
