There are symptoms that are associated with menopause, such as period changes, hot flashes, night sweats, trouble falling asleep at night, mood swings, hair loss, and facial hair growth.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Regular exercise can also improve your mood and help you sleep better at night. Make an exercise plan and stick to it. It is recommended that older adults do 2.5 hours of moderate aerobic physical activity each week. You can also substitute it for 1.5 hour vigorous aerobic physical exercise. Keeping an active exercise schedule might be easier than you think. Even with busy schedule, most women can find 2 hours each week for themselves.

During menopause women undergo a lot of hormonal changes in their body. Some women have symptoms before the start of menopause while others will not have any noticeable changes. Normally during menopause, women have hot flushes especially at night. The body becomes warm and they sweat profusely. Other symptom is vaginal dryness. Doctor will prescribe some lubricants to deal with it. Another symptom is headaches, and depression. They get irritated for no reason at all. Skin become dry and looses its elasticity.

Extra care should be taken by using moisturizers. Women should prepare themselves for menopause. They should remind themselves that they are under going hormonal changes in their body, which causes uneasiness in them.

Women have a tendency to have osteoporosis, in which, their bones become brittle there is a chance of fracturing their bones easily on falling. Calcium supplement is what they need. One should start taking lots of milk once they have the symptoms of menopause.

Knowing how to talk to your doctor or other members of your health care team can help you get the information you need about menopause. Your doctor will tell you, as you near menopause, that you may have symptoms from the changes your body is making. For some women, their menopause symptoms will go away over time without treatment. Other women will choose treatment for their symptoms.

Talk to your doctor about how to best manage menopause. Talk about your symptoms and whether they bother you. Make sure the doctor knows your medical history and your family medical history. This includes whether you are at risk for heart disease, osteoporosis, and breast cancer. Remember that your decision is never final. You can, and should review it with your doctor during a checkup. Your needs may change, and so might what we know about menopause.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

* Osteoporosis. Day in and day out your body is busy breaking down old bone and replacing it with new healthy bone. Estrogen helps control bone loss. So losing estrogen around the time of menopause causes women to begin to lose more bone than is replaced. In time, bones can become weak and break easily. This condition is called osteoporosis.
* Heart disease. After menopause, women are more likely to have heart disease. Changes in estrogen levels may be part of the cause. But, so is getting older. As you age, you may develop other problems, like high blood pressure or weight gain, which put you at greater risk for heart disease.

Source: Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

* Hot flashes. Keep track of when hot flashes happen. You might be able to identify a pattern or triggers, which you can avoid. Dress in layers and keep a fan in your home or workplace. If lifestyle changes don’t seem to help, ask your doctor about menopausal hormone therapy or nonhormonal prescription drugs. Research has found that nonhormonal prescription drugs, such as antidepressants, help hot flashes in some women.
* Vaginal dryness. Try an over-the-counter water-based vaginal lubricant. Prescription estrogen replacement creams and tablets also can help restore moisture and tissue health. If you have spotting or bleeding while using estrogen creams, you should see your doctor.
* Problems sleeping. One of the best ways to get a good night’s sleep is to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week. But avoid physical activity close to bedtime. Also avoid alcohol, caffeine, large meals, and working right before bedtime. You might want to drink something warm, such as herb tea or warm milk, before bedtime. Keeping your bedroom cool and dark also can help. Avoid napping during the day and try to go to bed and get up at the same times every day.
* Memory problems. Some women complain about problems with memory and concentration. But there is no proof that menopause causes memory problems. Try to get enough sleep and engage in physical and social activity. If forgetfulness or other mental problems worry you or are affecting your everyday functioning, talk to your doctor.
* Mood swings. Try to get enough sleep and be physically active. Set limits for yourself, and look for positive ways to ease daily stress. Think about going to a support group for women who are going through the same thing as you, or getting counseling to talk through your problems and fears. Talk to your doctor if mood swings are causing you distress. Medicines might help. For instance, menopausal hormone therapy might help if mood swings are related to disrupted sleep caused by night sweats. Also, your doctor can look out for signs of depression, which is a serious illness that needs treatment.

Source: Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

* Changes in your period. The time between periods and the flow from month to month may be different.
* Abnormal bleeding or “spotting.” This is common as you near menopause. But if your periods have stopped for 12 months in a row, and you still have “spotting,” you should talk to your doctor to rule out serious causes, like cancer.
* Night sweats. Hot flashes that occur while a woman is sleeping and cause her to perspire. They can make it hard to get a good night’s sleep.
* Sleeping problems. Lack of sleep can affect your mood, health, and ability to cope with everyday stress.
* Vaginal changes. The vagina may become dry and thin, and sex and vaginal exams may be painful. You also might get more vaginal infections.
* Thinning of your bones. This may lead to loss of height and bone breaks (osteoporosis).
* Emotional changes. May include mood swings, sadness, tearfulness, and irritability. Although menopause does not cause depression, women are at a higher risk of depression in the years leading up to menopause. Some researchers think that the decrease in estrogen levels plays a role in the onset of depression in some women. Also, lack of sleep can strain a woman’s emotional health.
* Urinary problems. You may have leaking, burning or pain when urinating, or leaking when sneezing, coughing, or laughing.
* Problems with memory and staying focused. You may notice you are more forgetful or have trouble concentrating.
* Sex drive decreases. You may have less interest in sex and changes in sexual response.
* Weight fluctuation. Weight gain or increase in body fat around your waist.
* Hair loss or thinning. Hair thinning or loss is a problem for some women.

Source: Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

• Medical treatments, such as surgery to remove the ovaries
• Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation to the pelvic area that damage the ovaries  —  although menopause does not always occur

For women who want to have children, premature menopause can be a source of great distress. Women who still want to become pregnant can talk with their doctors about other ways of having children, such as donor egg programs or adoption.

Having premature menopause puts a woman at more risk for osteoporosis later in her life.  If you have premature menopause, talk to your doctor about whether MHT might be an option for you. We don’t know for sure how MHT might affect younger women. But some researchers think that for these younger women, the risks of MHT use are likely to be smaller and the benefits greater than those in older women who begin MHT at or beyond the typical age of menopause.

Source: Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Source: Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

• Soy. Soy contains phytoestrogens (estrogen-like substances from a plant). But, there is no proof that soy  —  or other sources of phytoestrogens  —  really do make hot flashes better. And the risks of taking soy  —  mainly soy pills and powders  —  are not known. The best sources of soy are foods such as tofu, tempeh, soymilk, and soy nuts.
• Other sources of phytoestrogens. These include herbs such as black cohosh, wild yam, dong quai, and valerian root. Again, there is no proof that these herbs (or pills or creams containing these herbs) help with hot flashes.

Products that come from plants may sound like they are safe, but there is no proof that they really are. There also is no proof that they are helpful at easing symptoms of menopause. Make sure to discuss these types of products with your doctor before taking them. You also should tell your doctor about other medicines you are taking, since some plant products can be harmful when combined with other drugs.

Source: Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.