Menopause Symptoms

Symptoms of menopause begin when estrogen levels start changing. A woman's body can go through several kinds of changes at the same time.

Early in menopause, estrogen levels can rise sharply and then drop, which means you may skip periods or even have more frequent and heavier flow than usual during some months. Your period is likely to become increasingly irregular, and then eventually stop altogether.

The first menopause symptoms most women notice are hot flashes and mood swings. Some report mental confusion and sometimes a sense of sadness or depression. You also may have problems during sex, either because of vaginal dryness or lack of desire. Eventually, as your estrogen stays consistently at a low level, symptoms of menopause including the hot flashes, changing moods, and mental confusion usually disappear.

Menopause can affect your body organs and systems in many different ways:

• BLOOD VESSELS - Quick body temperature changes, or hot flashes, and waking during the night

• BRAIN/NERVES - Moods that change frequently or a tendency toward sadness, anger, or confusion, and in extreme cases, depression or anxiety

• GENITALS - Problems with dryness, itching, pain during sexual intercourse, or irritation of the tissues in and around the vagina

• URINARY SYSTEM - Problems with sudden or frequent urinating

• BONES - A higher risk of weaker bones, osteoporosis, and bone breaks

• HEART - Acceleration of risk factors associated with heart attacks and other heart problems