You think you already know what menopause will bring into your life? Well, think again.
While menopause announces its arrival with symptoms like night sweats and mood swings, it often brings with it some sneaky signs that later become hard to ignore.
If you want to educate yourself further on how menopause can turn your life upside down and what you can and cannot do about it, you have come to the right place.
Today we discuss how certain menopause symptoms can change your body, what to look out for, and how to deal with them.
When Vaginal Discharge Feels Different
During menopause, you will notice less lubrication and discharge from your vagina. What you need to be careful about though is the color and smell of the discharge. If the discharge looks like it’s got blood in it or if it has a very strong fishy smell, you might be dealing with an infection. It’s best to get in touch with your gynecologist as soon as you notice any of these signs.
It’s Been Ages Since You Last Slept Well
Anxiety and hot flashes in menopause don’t just affect your day. They can also impact the quality of your sleep. Night sweats, depression, mood swings and anxiety can all leave you staring at the ceiling at night and this can really affect your energy levels, your mood, and even your focus the following morning.
But can you do anything about it?
You absolutely can.
Keep your bedroom cool and try to go to bed at a reasonable hour every single night. Moreover, deep breathing and avoiding caffeine late in the evening can also help you fall asleep.
In some cases, treatment options like estradiol may help reduce night sweats, allowing you to enjoy more restful sleep over time.
You Start Experiencing Incontinence
Menopausal women often experience urinary incontinence and urgency. But what causes it? It is low estrogen.
Declining estrogen levels can weaken the pelvic floor and even thin the urinary tract lining. This can make one lose control over their pelvic muscles and lead to sudden leakage, especially during simple actions like sneezing, laughing and even coughing.
One way to control this is to practice Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor. Moreover, some women can benefit from vaginal estrogen therapy. Limiting caffeine consumption helps too.
Breast Lumps and Nipple Discharge Make You Feel Like Something’s Wrong
Your breasts may feel different once you enter menopause and you may even feel lumps in them. However, please note that most of these lumps are benign and usually occur due to fibrocystic changes or lipomas caused by fluctuating hormones.
But if you notice lumps that feel hard or ones that start growing in size, it might be time to get an evaluation from your doctor.
Bloating and Appetite Loss Become A Daily Struggle
During menopause, the body slows down digestion, which can ultimately lead to bloating and even constipation. Slow digestion can allow bacteria more time to ferment food, releasing more gas in the abdomen.
These gastrointestinal issues affect over 82% of women [A1] experiencing menopause and can also affect water retention and the gut microbiome.
Due to sluggish bowels, one might even experience feelings of fullness after eating very little food. This can cause appetite loss in many women. To manage this, try and avoid eating large meals and focus on having small but nutrient dense foods. Having a fixed eating schedule and an exercise routine can also help stimulate appetite.
Heart Palpitations Leave You Feeling Scared for Your Health
Heart palpitations are more common than you think.
They affect over 54% of menopausal women [A2] and are caused by fluctuating hormones like estrogen. Some women may feel that their heartbeat becomes irregular or even skips a beat altogether. This is very common during panic attacks and even during hot flashes. If you consume excessive amounts of caffeine, alcohol, nicotine or even just forget to stay hydrated, these lifestyle factors can greatly increase your chances of experiencing heart palpitations.
Practice mindfulness and meditation to keep your nervous system calm and to keep anxiety at bay.
You Experience Pain In Different Parts Of Your Body
Pain means something’s wrong in the body and needs your attention. And pain during menopause is the same. Low estrogen levels often increase inflammation in your body and this inflammation is what triggers pain in various areas. For instance, you might notice joint pain in your knees, shoulders, hands and feet, especially right after you wake up.
You may also feel it in the breast and pelvic regions. Since estrogen drops can also affect muscle mass, poor strength and muscle aches are a common complaint amongst menopausal women. Staying active and adding more Omega-3 rich foods to your diet can help reduce inflammation, thereby alleviating pain in the body. But if things get worse, get in touch with your physician to work out a solution.
Vaginal Dryness Is Affecting Intimacy
Estrogen is responsible for keeping the vaginal walls thick and moist. But when you’re in menopause, estrogen decline can lead to vaginal dryness and you might experience a burning or itching sensation down there. This can make penetrative sex uncomfortable for many. But where there is a will, there’s a way.
Vaginal estrogen creams and lubricants can help you manage vaginal dryness successfully.
Dry Skin Can Make You Feel Self-Conscious
Declining estrogen levels don’t just impact your reproductive health. They can have far-reaching effects on other areas of your body too. For instance, during menopause, you might look in the mirror and think, ‘I don’t look like my usual self!’
That’s because low estrogen affects collagen and oil production in the skin, leaving your skin looking thin and tired.
And if you live in a dry climate, your skin might start feeling itchy as well. So what can you do to deal with this parched skin of yours?
Well, a lot of things can help you retain hydration in your skin. Start by ditching strong, oil stripping cleansers and exfoliators and instead opt for gentle and calming cleansers. Next, hydrating ingredients such as ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and panthenol are your best friends as these will attract and retain moisture in your skin.
Don’t forget to seal all this hydrating goodness in with an occlusive like Argan oil. Also, slather SPF onto your skin whenever you decide to head out in the sunlight.
You might not expect these symptoms but ignoring them won’t do you any good. Listening to your body and acting immediately by seeking medical help and making lifestyle changes can help you come out on top. With the right approach, you can manage these menopausal symptoms effectively, and ensure that you handle this phase confidently and smoothly.
