- Mina @ Olivia
Signs of menopause - we have listed 34 symptoms to keep an eye on!
Updated: Dec 18, 2019
Menopause is a phase all women will go through in life, but still a topic we know surprisingly little about. In the years leading up to menopause, things are starting to change in our bodies, but it often takes a while before we understand this could be signs of menopause.

Hot flushes is the most talked-about sign of menopause, but it might not be what you experience
The first signs of menopause might start many years before what is clinically called menopause. That’s the point in life when you haven’t had your period for 12 consecutive months. The phase leading up to this point is called perimenopause and that’s when our hormones can go crazy causing all kinds of symptoms.
Menopause is tricky, even though some symptoms seem to be more common, that doesn’t mean what you are experiencing is not normal. Because what’s so unique about menopause is actually you. Every woman will experience the transition into menopause differently, and that is also what makes it complicated.
But, with that said, the 5 menopause symptoms that seem to be more common than others are:
Menstrual changes
Hot flushes
Night sweats
Mood swings
Insomnia
The signs of menopause can be both mental and physical, but many of the mental symptoms are harder to perceive and understand
Hot flushes are almost impossible to not notice, both for yourself and people surrounding you. But many of the mental signs are harder to detect. We mentioned mood swings on our list above, and here are 7 other mental signs that are common during the years leading up to menopause:
Fatigue
Anxiety
Depression
Panic attacks
Memory lapses
Difficulty concentrating/brain fog
Irritability
The physical menopause symptoms are easier to detect but it can still be hard to understand that they can be signs of menopause
Many of the symptoms linked to menopause are physical, and you might have experienced them before in your life, or they might come as a total surprise to you. If they suddenly appear again, or you have never had them before, they might be linked to menopause. Here are 17 physical signs that can occur during your transition into menopause:
Vaginal dryness
Decreased libido
Headache and migraine
Breast soreness
Joint pain
Digestive problems
Bloating
Muscle tension
Itchy skin
Hair loss
Weight gain
Vertigo
Incontinence
Brittle nails
Irregular heartbeat
Body odour
Osteoporosis
Allergies popping up all of a sudden can be one of the more surprising signs of menopause
We are now down to the final 5 symptoms, and they might be surprising to you:
Burning mouth
Gum problems
Tingling extremities
Electric shocks
Allergies
You don’t need a list of 34 symptoms of menopause, but it might help you understand more about you and menopause
Why do you need to see a list of 34 symptoms linked to menopause? Well, you don’t, but it can help you understand a bit more about things you are experiencing at this point in life. It might feel comforting knowing you are not going crazy, there is an explanation to what’s happening and by knowing that it can be easier to accept, but also to seek help if you need to.
Menopause is not a disease that we need to cure, it’s a natural phase in every woman’s life, but it can still be very challenging when experiencing it. With age, our hormone levels naturally decline, and the balance between estrogen and progesterone can be unsettled. Both the hormone drop and the imbalance between the hormones are the villains in this context.
If you feel your symptoms are interfering with your daily life, turn to your gynaecologist or healthcare provider for counselling. You are not alone in this.
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/menopause#timeline
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20353397
#34signsofmenopause #menopausesymptoms #menopause #perimenopause