Age

The beginning of the menopause can be noticed by different signs. The most important sign is increasingly irregular periods. In addition, hot flushes, heavy sweating without a specific trigger, sleep disturbances, irritable moods and exhaustion can occur.

Depressed mood, nervousness, dryness in the genital area and weight gain can also occur. At the beginning of the menopause, menstrual periods are often shorter than before and the intervals between two bleedings increase. In some women, however, the bleeding initially becomes heavier.

At some point, the menstrual periods stop completely. In addition, some women notice an unusual weight gain and a redistribution of fat that is more similar to the fat distribution in men (the male sex hormone gains influence due to the continuous decrease in estrogen levels). In most cases, the abdomen and breasts become larger while the buttocks become flatter.

Meals that could previously be eaten without noticeable weight gain are now too much, due to the body’s decreasing energy requirements during menopause. Another frequently described symptom of the menopause is a feeling of tension or pain in the chest, which is also caused by the falling estrogen level. Many women also complain of incipient bladder weakness during this period, which is caused less by the hormonal effects of the menopause than by the weakened pelvic floor muscles caused by several pregnancies and births.

Symptoms of menopause

The main symptoms of the menopause are manifold and vary greatly from person to person. Most women complain about increasing menstrual cycle changes right at the beginning: The bleeding becomes stronger and longer lasting and the intervals between individual bleedings become longer until the period finally stops altogether. Other common symptoms of menopause are sudden, unexpected hot flushes, excessive sweating and sweating especially around the face, neck and upper body.

These can lead to unpleasant situations in everyday life during the day and have a strong impact on a regulated and energizing sleep at night. These problems of falling and staying asleep often occur in women during the menopause and have effects on their physical well-being that should not be underestimated. The resulting symptoms of exhaustion and reduced performance can cause symptoms such as excessive irritation, dissatisfaction or severe mood swings, which in turn have an influence on sleep behavior.

This vicious circle burdens some women so much that their basic mood can even change towards depression. In this case, it is recommended to seek professional, psychological advice. Another common symptom of menopause is a disturbing dryness of the mucous membranes (especially in the area of the vagina as vaginal dryness), which can cause problems during sexual intercourse. The resulting restriction of intimacy with the partner can even lead to relationship conflicts. During the menopause, openness and conversations about worries, fears and physical stress are essential for a stable relationship in which the partners support each other.