Why Does Menopause Cause Such Uncomfortable Symptoms?

If you live long enough, menopause is inevitable. Although it’s a natural phase in every woman’s life, it comes with a slew of uncomfortable symptoms that can make the transition annoying at best and health-challenging at worst. 

For most women, the symptoms are bewildering and overwhelming, from hot flashes to emotional turbulence, but why? What is it about menopause that’s making you feel so crummy?

Dr. James Lee at Woodstock Family Practice & Urgent Care in Woodstock, Georgia, explains the culprits behind those uncomfortable menopause symptoms so you can understand and control them better.

Classic menopause symptoms

Every woman experiences menopause differently, but on average, it occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 and marks the end of menstrual cycles. Menopause isn’t official until you’ve gone 12 months without a period. The onset, severity, and duration of your symptoms depend on several variables. 

Some women notice a few uncomfortable changes; others experience intense physical and emotional issues. Here are some classic menopause symptoms:

Hot flashes and night sweats

Hot flashes are sudden feelings of warmth that spread over your body. When they happen during sleep, you may sweat through your pajamas and wake up often, leading to health problems related to inadequate sleep.

Mood swings and emotional changes

Hormonal fluctuations can make you moody, irritable, emotional, and overly sensitive. 

Sleep problems

Insomnia, night sweats, and anxiety can make it tough to get a good night’s sleep, leading to fatigue and daytime drowsiness.

Why does menopause cause these symptoms?

Understanding why these symptoms occur can make them a bit easier to manage. Here’s the biological explanation for menopause symptoms.

Your estrogen levels plummet

Estrogen regulates your menstrual cycle and various bodily functions, so the decline in estrogen production disrupts your body. For example, you may feel sudden surges of inner heat, moodiness, and problems sleeping through the night.

Your hormones get out of balance

In addition to a drop in estrogen, menopause changes the balance of other hormones like progesterone and testosterone, contributing to symptoms like weight gain, hair thinning, and skin changes.

Your hypothalamus becomes confused

Declining estrogen levels affect your hypothalamus, the part of your brain that regulates body temperature. This disruption can cause the hypothalamus to misinterpret your body temperature, which causes hot flashes and night sweats.

When will menopause symptoms end?

Many women come to Dr. Lee wondering if and when menopause symptoms will end and whether they need treatment. The answer is different for everyone because the duration and severity of menopause symptoms can vary widely.

Typically, the symptoms ramp up during the years before menopause and subside gradually afterward, but again, the severity and frequency are unique to each woman.

Perimenopause

Perimenopause, the transitional period leading up to menopause, can last from a few months to several years. During this time, you may experience irregular periods along with other menopause symptoms.

Menopause and postmenopause

For most women, the worst symptoms begin to subside within a few years of the actual arrival of menopause – when you’ve gone 12 months without a period. However, some women may continue to experience symptoms like hot flashes for a decade or longer.

Bioidentical hormones to treat menopause symptoms

If you’re struggling with menopausal symptoms and need next-level relief, Dr. Lee offers bioidentical hormone therapy. 

These hormones are chemically identical to the ones your body produces. These hormones replace and rebalance your hormones to alleviate hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep problems.

Now that you know why menopause is wreaking havoc on your body and in your brain, you can navigate a clear path to relief. Call Woodstock Family Practice & Urgent Care or book online to discuss bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for menopause.