10 signs you’re on the brink of menopause…from mood swings to piling on pounds
IT'S a fact of life no woman can escape, menopause will come around whether you like it or not.
For some women it can cause horrible symptoms and mood swings, while others have a much easier time of it.
A woman is considered to be in menopause when they have not had a menstrual cycle for 12 months – meaning she is coming to the end of her reproductive years.
Symptoms usually start a few months or even years before periods stop, known as the perimenopause, and can persist for some time afterwards.
On average, most symptoms last around four years from your last period. However, around 1 in every 10 women experience them for up to 12 years, according to the NHS.
These are the key signs of perimenopause to look out for.
1. Irregular periods
One of the biggest signs you might be about to go through menopause is experiencing irregular periods.
Your menstrual cycle is controlled by the production of the female sex hormone oestrogen, so when that starts to taper off your periods become less regular.
Your cycle may be longer or shorter than normal, heavier or lighter than normal and you may even miss periods.
But if you don't think you are on the brink of menopause there are a number of things your irregular bleeding could be telling you about your health.
2. Weight gain
Way to make a tough time tougher.
Many women experience weight gain when they go through the change.
So if you have started piling on pounds but can't seem to work out why, menopause may be to blame.
Lower oestrogen levels, insulin resistance, a slower metabolism and an increase in the stress hormone cortisol can all cause you to carry a little extra weight around your tummy during this time.
3. Mood swings
When your hormones are changing it goes without saying that you will experience mood swings.
Think about the mood swings you get with PMS, they will be similar or even more intense.
A drop in your oestrogen levels can cause irritability and your seratonin - the feel good hormone - may also drop, causing you to feel down.
Don't worry, the low moods are not permanent and will wear off once your body gets used to the changes in your hormones.
4. Dryness down there
Another unfortunate side effect of a drop in oestrogen levels is vaginal dryness.
Your oestrogen levels are what keeps your vagina's muscles healthy and also helps produce the discharge that not only cleans your lady garden, but also provides lubrication during sex.
This can also lead to the thinning of the vaginal walls, known as vaginal atrophy, which can make having sex quite painful.
You can solve the issue by using a personal lube recommended by your gynaecologist.
5. You don't want sex
On the topic of being intimate, you may find your sex drive begins to lack.
Again, this is down to hormonal changes.
Your sex drive is heavily influenced by, you probably guessed it, oestrogen.
When levels drop of you might find your desire to get down and dirty does too.
But this doesn't affect all women, some women may even find their sex drive increases.
6. Dry skin and split ends
As if ageing wasn't enough.
Menopause can also cause your skin to become dry and your hair might develop more split ends.
On top of that you may experience some acne, oiliness, wrinkles, age spots and even facial hair growth.
You're probably sensing a theme here - it's all down to your hormones.
Oestrogen plays an important role in interacting with collagen to keep your skin soft and plump.
So when your levels drop, you can see an effect on your skin.
7. Poor sleep
There are several reasons you may have trouble getting to the land of nod when going through the menopause.
Firstly, hormone changes can cause hot flushes and night sweats, which can make falling difficult.
Your mood swings - think stress - may also impact how well you sleep.
8. Brain fog
There have been some studies that suggest your memory and thinking skills might decline during this time in your life.
Again, this is down to your hormone levels.
Your body has so much going on that a foggy memory is quite normal for many women, but it's only temporary.
If you are having trouble sleeping you may also find concentrating difficult.
9. Muscle stiffness
As your hormone levels change you may experience soreness and stiffness in the muscles and joints.
The loss of oestrogen in your body can cause inflammation, which can lead to pain and discomfort.
High cortisol levels can also cause stiffness in the muscles.
And if you are prone to migraines they might get slightly worse, but it will only be temporary.
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10. A week problem
Urinary incontinence is common in older women, especially after menopause.
As discussed above, the drop in your oestrogen levels can cause a thinning of the muscles around the vagina.
It can also have the same effect on your pelvic floor - the group of muscles that helps you hold in a wee and prevents prolapse.
Luckily, you can help prevent this problem by regularly doing pelvic floor exercises.
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