Key facts
- You might experience a wide range of symptoms throughout the menopause transition.
- If you have symptoms, they will usually start during perimenopause. For some, symptoms might continue into postmenopause. This means symptoms can continue anywhere from 2 to more than 10 years.
- Symptoms can affect your physical, mental and emotional health.
- You don’t need to put up with symptoms that are worrying you. There are treatment and support options that can help.
- All health issues and concerns are important, whether they are caused by perimenopause and menopause or not.
- Speak with your doctor about any health issue or concern that is affecting your quality of life.
Menopause-related symptoms
During the menopause transition, levels of oestrogen and progesterone, which are hormones produced by your ovaries, change.
This causes menopause-related symptoms. People might also describe these symptoms as ‘perimenopause symptoms’, ‘menopause symptoms’ or ‘menopausal symptoms’.
Severity and length of symptoms
About 1 in 2 women report mild to moderate symptoms. Around 1 in 4 women have symptoms severe enough to affect daily activities. And around 1 in 4 women have no symptoms.
If you have menopause-related symptoms, they will usually start during perimenopause.
On average, women will experience symptoms for 4 to 6 years. Symptoms can continue for a long time, with 1 in 10 women experiencing symptoms for years into postmenopause. Some symptoms, such as vaginal and urinary/bladder symptoms, can continue for the rest of your life if they are not treated.
Not knowing what to expect can be confusing and worrying. Learning more about symptoms, and the management and treatment options, can help you feel prepared and in control.
You do not need to put up with menopause-related symptoms that are worrying you. Talk with a doctor about support and treatment that is suitable for you.
Menopause-related symptoms can be very similar to symptoms of other health issues
Not all health issues and symptoms you experience in your midlife will be due directly to the menopause transition. Some changes might be related to ageing, life stress or other health conditions.
It is important that you seek advice from a doctor to get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate care.
Common symptoms
There are a wide range of menopause-related symptoms, and every person will have a different experience and different symptoms. Symptoms can be physical, emotional, cognitive, or a combination of all.
Common physical symptoms include:
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Your period might be:
- irregular
- shorter or longer
- lighter or heavier
- absent for a few months.
Heavy blood loss can lead to low iron and fatigue and tiredness.
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These are short and sudden feelings of heat, usually in the neck, face and chest, which can make your skin red and sweaty.
Hot flushes usually last from 30 seconds to a few minutes. Around 80% of women will experience them.
When a hot flush happens at night, it’s called a night sweat (even if you don’t sweat).
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You might:
- have trouble getting to sleep
- have trouble staying asleep
- start waking up too early.
Sleep problems can be due to hormonal fluctuations, or lifestyle factors and ageing.
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You might feel pain in your hands, knees, hips, shoulders or back.
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You might experience pain, irritation and discomfort which can cause painful sex.
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You might find that you need to wee more often, have leakage or discomfort, experience incontinence or get recurrent urinary tract infections.
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You might experience crawling or scratchy feelings across your skin.
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You might notice increased belly fat (fat stored around your stomach).
If you have a history of anxiety, depression or premenstrual syndrome (PMS) you might be more likely to feel low during perimenopause and menopause. Common mental and emotional symptoms include:
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You might notice more intense or rapidly changing moods. This could be due to perimenopause and menopause, or other life factors and ageing.
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You might notice reduced interest in sex (low libido).
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You might have difficulty concentrating, finding the right words, or losing your train of thought. Brain fog is commonly reported but usually improves over time.
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You could start to feel sad, worried, have panic attacks, or feel lower self-esteem or self-worth.
Symptom checklist
The Jean Hailes for Women’s Health perimenopause and menopause symptom checklist can help you identify symptoms and guide a conversation with your doctor. Print it out and take it with you to your next appointment.
Management and treatment options
If you have menopause-related symptoms that are affecting your quality of life, there are many management and treatment options you can consider. You don’t need to put up with worrying symptoms.
You might find that lifestyle and behavioural changes, such as exercise, nutrition and mindfulness, can help you manage the effects of menopause-related symptoms. For example, yoga and exercise have been shown to help improve sleep.
Some will benefit from medical treatments to manage their symptoms. Talk to a doctor about options that might be suitable for you.
Your doctor might discuss:
- lifestyle and behavioural strategies
- physical therapy and interventions for some bladder problems
- menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) (sometimes called hormone replacement therapy or HRT)
- non‑hormonal prescription medicines.
Find out more about managing your symptoms and treatment options.
When to see a doctor
If you have menopause-related symptoms that are impacting your life or worrying you, it is important to talk to a doctor. There are treatment and support options that can help.
Not all health issues and concerns experienced in your midlife or in postmenopause are due directly to the menopause transition. Some symptoms can also be due to other health conditions or issues.
It is important that you talk to a doctor to get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate care.