Menopause Symptoms

Though it's a rare woman who hasn't heard about menopause, there are many women who aren't knowledgeable when it comes to symptoms. When they think of symptoms they think of hot flashes and heavy periods. Our culture is mostly to blame for this since just about everything pertaining to menopause is kept quiet. Even doctors aren't that savvy when it comes to knowing about symptoms and the best ways to treat them.

So it's up to every woman to become savvy about the symptoms. Not every woman will develop every symptom, but it's still a good idea to know what the symptoms are and what their effects are in order to recognize them and develop strategies for dealing with them. Information is the first step in managing your symptoms.

As mentioned, hot flashes are one of the most common symptoms. Irregular periods, changes in periods are also symptoms and can strike a woman as early as her mid-thirties. Other symptoms include mood swings, depression, anxiety attacks, vaginal dryness, night sweats, urinary tract problems and even weight gain or loss. Some women may experience few if any symptoms and what symptoms they have may be quite mild. Other women may suffer severe symptoms in just about every category.

Genetics play an important role in the number and severity of symptoms a woman may experience as she goes through menopause. If your mother, for example, went through menopause in her early 50s with mild to no side effects, then it's likely yours will be mild as well. If, however, your mother had severe symptoms, you may well have more moderate to severe symptoms yourself. A history of depression also increases your likelihood that you'll have some depression as you go through menopause.

Fortunately, today there are a great many treatments for symptoms. So make a list of your symptoms and rate their severity, then see a physician for a complete physical examination and advice on treating your symptoms. You may also want to do some online research about the condition and the treatments that are available to help you and your doctor decide what is the best way to treat and manage your symptoms. Just know that no matter which symptoms you have and how severe they are relief is possible. Don't give up until you find the right treatment or combination of treatments that's best for your particular symptoms.

Also read our article about Menopause Hormone Bounce