It’s not a random number! It’s fully understood within medical circles that there is a uniform list of 34 symptoms of the menopause. However, before you panic and go out and buy 34 chocolate bars, 34 bottles of Evening Primrose oil or 34 different types of HRT, it doesn’t mean that you will experience them all!

Menopause is unique for individual women. Some experience many symptoms and some experience very few. Others may experience symptoms over a longer period of time than others. We stock hormone replacement therapy (HRT) such as Femhrt, so you can get help for managing symptoms if you need it.

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It’s useful to know what might be an expected part of this life stage. So, what are the 34 symptoms of the menopause that you should look out for?

34 symptoms of the menopause

1.Hot flushes

Too many jokes abound around this symptom of the menopause for it to go unawares. Hot flushes are very common. They are often experienced as heat and redness rising upwards on the chest and neck, progressing into the face.

2.Irregular periods

It’s normal for your periods to become irregular before they finally stop altogether (the defining feature of ‘the menopause’ is that you haven’t had a period for 12 months). Sometimes the gaps between periods can lengthen or shorten, and the amount of time you bleed for can also vary, before they stop altogether.

3.Bloating

Bloating is a very common early sign that the menopause may be on its way. In fact, many women look back and realize that bloating was their first symptom.

4.Night sweats

During the night it’s common to experience notable sweating. Use cotton sheets and layers in your bedding.

5.Body odor

Unfortunately, sweating isn’t limited to night time; you just may notice it more then. As such, and combined with hormone changes, you may experience an increase in body odor.

6.Mood swings

Around one quarter of women will struggle with mood swings during the perimenopause. They are caused by fluctuating hormone levels, much like with Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS).

7.Anxiety

Unfortunately, many women experience an increase in anxiety symptoms around the time of the menopause. Indeed, it is believed that as many as 1 in 3 women suffer with menopausal anxiety.

8.Panic disorder

In some cases the anxiety can become more extreme, leading to panic attacks.

9.Irritability

For you, your emotional changes may present as increased irritability.

10.Depression or low mood

Alternatively, or in addition, you may experience low mood or depression. Depression is much more common in post-menopausal women compared to those who have not yet been through the menopause.

11.Memory lapses

It’s not a myth; during the perimenopause it is common to experience small cognitive issues, such as forgetting words or elements of a routine. These experiences aren’t usually serious but can be frustrating.

12.Concentration difficulties

Similarly, difficulty concentrating is quite common. This is because your brain becomes less efficient at using glucose as an energy source.

13.Fatigue and tiredness

You’ll be far from alone if one of your menopausal symptoms is fatigue or extreme tiredness. Be kind to yourself and rest up when you can.

14.Insomnia

Despite the symptoms of fatigue and tiredness, it’s also possible to struggle to get to sleep, stay asleep or enjoy good quality sleep. Sleeping tablets or herbal supplements may help.

15.Headaches

If you have typically experienced headaches during your period, or immediately before it, you may experience erratic headaches during the menopause. Ensuring you drink lots of water is important.

16.Breast tenderness

Many women experience breast tenderness at different times during their cycle. If you experienced tender breasts during pregnancy or at other times during your life, you are more likely to experience tenderness during the perimenopause.

17.Vaginal dryness

Again, due to changing hormone levels, vaginal dryness is well-known as one of the 34 symptoms of the menopause. It may cause discomfort or pain, particularly during sex. Creams such as Estrace can help alleviate this symptom.

18.Lower libido

Your sex drive may dip during the run up to the menopause. This is common and may be accompanied by the vaginal dryness as experience above. HRT can help.

19.Dry or burning mouth

Reduced levels of saliva production can cause your mouth to feel dry and sometimes this is accompanied with a burning or hot sensation.

20.Gum problems

Possibly connected to the reduction in saliva, it’s reasonably common for women to experience gum problems around the time of the menopause.

21.Joint pain

Nondescript joint aches and pains often begin around the time of the menopause in women.

22.Muscle tension

As well as joint pain, or by itself, you may experience tightness and tension in your muscles.

23.Digestive issues

Changes in your hormone levels can affect your gut, particularly if you find you have quite a sensitive system anyway. It’s quite normal to experience a plethora of digestive issues during the menopause from bloating to diarrhea.

24.Tingling sensations

If you are experiencing a tingling or buzzing sensation, usually in the limbs, this could well be a symptom of the menopause. If you are unsure of the cause, do consult your GP.

25.Electric shocks

Bizarrely, many women experience a greater number of electric shocks during the menopause. There seems to be some correlation with women experiencing them immediately before they have a hot flush.

26.Itchy skin

The reduction in the hormone estrogen can lower the amount of collagen in your skin which keeps it hydrated and supple. This may lead to you experiencing skin thinning and itchiness.

27.Hair loss

It’s not just men who experience hair thinning with age. Many women find that their hair thins as they go through menopause.

28.Brittle or thinning nails

Similarly, your nails may break more easily once you’ve been through the menopause.

29.Weight gain

Many women find that they gain weight more easily during the menopause. This is accompanied by finding it harder to lose weight too. Weight loss medication, such as Orlistat, may be recommended.

30.Dizziness

Estrogen drops during menopause and this can cause dizzy episodes.

31.Stress incontinence

Unpleasant but not unusual, women who have experienced damage to their pelvic floor during pregnancy and childbirth may find that as they age they experience urine leakage. There is help available, so do speak to your GP and don’t suffer in silence.

32.Allergies

The menopause is one of the life stages which seem to trigger new allergies and intolerances. Your hormones work in relation to your immune system, so this is probably why.

33.Irregular heartbeat or tachycardia

An irregular or fast heartbeat (tachycardia) can be a sign of the menopause. However, you should always get any heart changes checked out by your doctor.

34.Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is often triggered by the menopause because a woman’s bone density drops along with the drop in estrogen levels. Medications such as Alendronate can help.

It would be very unusual for a woman to experience all 34 symptoms of the menopause, so don’t panic! However, if your symptoms are particularly troublesome, or go on for a longer than expected period of time, you may want to consider HRT, such as Femhrt.