4. Insomnia and Sleep Disruptions
Menopause can wreak havoc on your ability to get quality shut-eye. Either you can’t fall asleep, or you wake up several times during the night.
Causes
Research shows menopause can keep you awake for a variety of reasons:
- Levels of estrogen and progesterone, sleep-promoting hormones, are dropping.
- The sudden flash of heat and soaking perspiration from night sweats wakes you up. It may take a while to get back to sleep, especially if you have to change clothes and strip the bed.
- Depression and anxiety can both affect your sleep.
5. Hair Loss and Brittle Nails
Many women have some hair thinning during menopause. Some develop an extreme form of it called female pattern hair loss. Your nails may become ridged and brittle, too.
Causes
Drops in estrogen and progesterone are responsible for hair changes. When these hormones decrease, other hormones called androgens take effect. This may cause hair to grow on places like your chin and upper lip.
Hair and nails are made up largely of keratin, which your body makes less of as estrogen drops. Lack of estrogen can also make your skin and nails dry.
6. Sexual Dysfunction, Desire Issues
Many women get unpleasant sexual side effects during menopause, including painful sex, vaginal tightness during penetration, and a higher risk of tearing and bleeding during sex. Some may have trouble with arousal or orgasm.
Causes
7. Bone Loss and Osteoporosis Risk
Causes
One of estrogen’s jobs is to protect bone health. When estrogen depletes, so goes that benefit, leaving bones prone to deterioration.
The right supplements can help you navigate perimenopause. Read our comprehensive guide on the best supplements for perimenopause to find products that may help soothe your symptoms and support your overall health. Talk with your doctor before starting a new supplement, though.
8. Dry Skin and Other Skin Problems
Causes
Once again, this comes down to lower estrogen. It causes skin to thin, which leaves it vulnerable to bruising. Skin also loses the ability to hold onto moisture. The wrinkling, jowls, and slackness are due to skin losing collagen, a protein that gives skin its elasticity.
Women’s skin loses about 30 percent of its collagen during the first five years of menopause. After that, you lose about 2 percent each year for the next 20 years.
9. Dry Eyes and Dry Mouth
Some women can get dry, inflamed, irritated eyes during menopause due to the lack of lubrication on the tissue that covers your eyeball. It’s also possible to get a dry mouth, and a lack of saliva can lead to a higher risk of cavities, periodontal disease, and gingivitis.
Causes
A drop in estrogen also can lead to the drying of the oral mucosa in the same way it dries out the vagina.
10. Memory Issues and Problems With Concentration
Many women in menopause find that words are harder to retrieve. They may forget why they walked into a room. And they might have trouble concentrating on tasks. As it happens, brain fog, focus and attention issues, and trouble making decisions are often due to this life transition.
Causes
Lower estrogen is once again the cause, but that’s not the whole story. Disrupted sleep, depression, and hot flashes can also play roles.
The Takeaway
- Menopause can cause a variety of changes to your body that can lead to symptoms like hot flashes, weight gain, dryness, thinning hair, bone loss, and mood changes, among others.
- Other lesser-known symptoms can also happen during menopause, such as brain fog, dry mouth, and dry eyes.
- Menopause symptoms can range from mild to debilitating, but some women don’t seek help for relief due to stigma or lack of menopause awareness.
- If menopause symptoms are interfering with your quality of life, talk with your healthcare provider, who can provide lifestyle tips and guidance on treatment options.
Read the full article here
