Let’s talk about……….Expected and not so expected Peri–menopause and menopausal Symptoms and Quiz.
Night Sweats and Hot Flashes are the most commonly expected symptoms of “The Change”. Some women have also heard from others that they may experience loss of libido, vaginal dryness and mood variations. This has led to some women questioning if they are entering menopause simply because they have temporarily lost interest in sex and are no longer watching Tubev videos. The reality is that some women experience a bevy of other signs and symptoms that are not commonly discussed as they may hold some stigma in our society. These can include anxiety, panic attacks and heart palpitations!
Symptoms such as these and many others can come into play without any advance warning. Some of my new Patients tell me they have started thinking they have developed some mental disorders when actually these signs can signal a hormonal imbalance and be a part of Peri–menopause and menopause.
Listed below are symptoms that have been connected with “The Change” As each woman is her own individual, not everyone will have any or all of them, nor with the same incidence, intensity or intervals. Take the quiz: Have you experienced any of these lately?
- Depression
- Exacerbation of existing conditions
- Increase in allergies
- Weight gain
- Hair loss or thinning, head, pubic, or whole body; increase in facial hair
- Itchy, crawly skin
- Aching, sore joints, muscles and tendons
- Increased tension in muscles
- Breast tenderness
- Headache change: increase or decrease
- Trouble sleeping through the night (with or without night sweats)
- Changes in body odor
- Electric shock sensation under the skin and in the head
- Tingling in the extremities
- Gum problems, increased bleeding
- Burning tongue, burning roof of mouth, bad taste in mouth, change in breath odor
- Osteopenia / Osteoporosis (after several years)
- Changes in fingernails: softer, crack or break easier
- Tinnitus: ringing in ears, bells, ‘whooshing,’ buzzing etc.
- Irregular periods; shorter, lighter periods; heavier periods, flooding; phantom periods, shorter cycles, longer cycles
- Loss of libido
- Vaginal dryness
- Crashing fatigue
- Gastrointestinal distress, indigestion, flatulence, gas pain, nausea
- Sudden bouts of bloat
- Hot flashes, hot flushes, night sweats and/or cold flashes, clammy feeling
- Irregular heart beat
- Irritability
- Mood swings, sudden tears
- Anxiety, feeling ill at ease
- Feelings of dread, apprehension, doom
- Difficulty concentrating, disorientation, mental confusion
- Disturbing memory lapses
- Incontinence, especially upon sneezing, laughing; urge incontinence
- Belly Fat
- Dizziness, vertigo, light-headedness, episodes of loss of balance
So, how did you do on the quiz? Have you had any of these concerns? If yes, How do you definitely know that you are in Peri – menopause or menopause?
A full Hormonal consultation with a Board Certified Gynecologist that specializes in the identification and treatment of Peri – menopause and menopause and Bio – Identical Hormones should be arranged. Various tests and a thorough consultation will determine if you are in this stage of life. Holistic individualized treatments, lifestyle, nutritional counseling and continued follow – up with your Physician will help you to live this time of your life healthy and happy, and no more wondering if you are “losing it”!
