Menopause symptoms and the complaints they bring
What are the symptoms of the menopause? Hot flushes, sleep problems, weight gain, brain fog and the urinary and vaginal changes — what happens and what helps.
The menopause is the natural point at which the ovaries stop working, oestrogen and progesterone fall, and periods stop for good. In Türkiye, as elsewhere, it usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55. The transition that leads up to it — perimenopause — can begin years earlier and usually announces itself through irregular periods.
Because hormone receptors sit throughout the body, the fall in these hormones produces physical, emotional and cognitive complaints at the same time. Around 80-90% of women notice symptoms; about 25% find them severe enough to disrupt daily life.
Hot flushes and night sweats
The symptom most often associated with the menopause, affecting roughly 70-80% of women. A flush usually begins as a sudden heat in the upper chest and face, with heavy sweating and sometimes palpitations. It commonly lasts 2-4 minutes and can leave behind chills, shivering and a feeling of anxiety. When it happens at night it breaks sleep, and that alone lowers quality of life.
Sleep problems and fatigue
Sleep suffers not only because of night sweats but directly through the hormonal change. Progesterone, which has a calming, sleep-promoting effect, falls quickly — falling asleep becomes harder and the night is broken more often. Insomnia and unrefreshing sleep are among the largest reasons for the daytime exhaustion and flatness so many women describe.
Mood changes and brain fog
Shifting hormone levels act directly on brain function and mood.
- Mood swings and low mood: anxiety, irritability, tearfulness, loss of motivation and loss of confidence are common. The risk of a depressive episode is more than twice what it was in earlier years.
- Brain fog: trouble with memory and concentration, difficulty finding words, and difficulty holding several tasks at once.
Vaginal and urinary complaints
As oestrogen falls, blood flow to the vaginal tissues slows and the tissue itself thins and loses elasticity. This is called the genitourinary syndrome of the menopause. It shows up as:
- vaginal dryness, itching and burning;
- pain during sex (dyspareunia) and, following from it, reduced sexual desire;
- urinary problems: needing to pass urine often, leaking, and repeated urinary infections.
Joint pain, weight gain and other physical changes
- Weight around the abdomen: metabolism slows, muscle mass falls and the drop in oestrogen shifts where fat is stored — it collects around the waist and abdomen.
- Joint and muscle pain: morning stiffness and widespread aching are common.
- Skin and hair: as skin collagen falls, skin becomes drier and thinner and lines deepen; hair may become dry and thin.
- Palpitations and headache: unexplained palpitations, and in the years before the menopause an increase in migraine or headache attacks clustered around the period.
What helps
These symptoms can lower quality of life, but they do not have to be endured. Regular exercise and a diet that limits sugar and alcohol are the first step. Beyond that, and under a doctor's guidance, menopausal hormone therapy — the most effective treatment for hot flushes and for preventing bone loss — cognitive behavioural therapy and non-hormonal medical options can make this stage of life considerably more comfortable.
For the wider picture see what the menopause is.