Why do menopause symptoms occur?

Menopause symptoms are caused by the sudden or gradual loss of female hormones. Ovaries reduce its production of female hormones, estrogen and progesterone. It is the low levels of estrogen that causes some women to experience uncomfortable menopause symptoms.

Read more about the effects of estrogen here.

Common Symptoms

Estrogen has many effects on the body as explained in the about estrogen page. Low or fluctuating estrogen levels can cause common symptoms such as:

• irregular periods
• hot flashes and night sweats
• vaginal dryness or itching
• dizziness
• palpitations (rapid heart beat)
• skin - dryness or sensations (crawling or itching)
• headaches
• muscle or joint pain
• emotional changes
• frequent desire to pass urine
• weight gain
• reduced libido or sex drive

Reduced libido and sex drive is caused by reduced testosterone as well as estrogen levels.

Not all women in perimenopause will suffer menopause symptoms, and the degree of discomfort also varies between individuals. There are many women who generally feel well during menopause, with the occasional symptom, however some women suffer from acute and severe symptoms. Thin women of slimmer builds may experience more severe symptoms due to the lack of fat cells for estrone (a less active form of estrogen produced postmenopause) production.

Women who have reached menopause have a greater risk of developing heart disease and osteoporosis (a bone deteriorating disease). These increased health risks are due to the effects of reduced estrogen levels on the blood vessels and bone density, respectively.

My worst menopause symptom is…

fatigue  hot flashes  anxiety  vaginal dryness  depression  insomnia  dry skin and hair  low libido

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