Key takeaways

  • The symptoms of menopause can include hot flashes, irregular periods, mood changes, night sweats, breast soreness, vaginal dryness, bloating, thinning hair, and many more.
  • The symptoms can vary from person to person. Some have more, and some have less. They may be mild or severe.
  • Treatments such as hormone therapy and lifestyle changes like avoiding caffeine and alcohol, getting regular exercise, and practicing relaxation can help reduce the discomfort.

Menopause refers to the stage of a person’s life during which their period stops.

The years leading up to menopause are called the menopausal transition, or perimenopause. This stage can also be accompanied by symptoms, which may persist for years.

This article looks at the 34 symptoms of menopause and what may help.

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Menopause and perimenopause can cause a range of symptoms that may vary from person to person.

1. Hot flashes

Hot flashes are among the most common symptoms of menopause. They cause someone to suddenly become hot, sweaty, and flushed, especially in the face, neck, and chest. Some people also experience chills.

2. Night sweats

Night sweats are hot flashes that occur during sleep. Scientists are not sure why they occur, but it appears that falling estrogen levels can affect the hypothalamus, which regulates body temperature.

3. Irregular periods

Throughout the menopausal transition, it is natural to have irregular or missed periods. Eventually, a person will stop having periods entirely.

4. Mood changes

Mood shifts can cause someone to feel suddenly sad, weepy, or angry. Mood changes are common during perimenopause and menopause.

5. Breast soreness

Breast tenderness is another symptom of menopause. The breasts may feel swollen or painful off and on during the transition.

6. Vaginal dryness

A lack of hormones can decrease blood flow to the tissues in the vagina, which can affect natural lubrication. This may cause dryness and lead to tissue thinning.

7. Decreased libido

Menopause can affect libido — a person’s desire for sex. This can be the direct result of having lower levels of testosterone and estrogen, which can make physical arousal more difficult.

However, it can also be a secondary result of the other symptoms of menopause, such as mood changes, sleep disturbances, or vaginal dryness. There may be treatments available that can help alleviate these symptoms.

8. Headaches

Someone entering menopause may experience more frequent headaches or migraine episodes as a result of a dip in estrogen.

However, unlike during a typical menstrual cycle, hormone levels during perimenopause can fluctuate more unpredictably.

9. Recurring UTIs

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can become more common after menopause. This is most likely due to the decline in estrogen levels. This drop causes the vaginal tissues to thin, leading to dryness, irritation, and other factors that make it easier for a UTI to develop.

A person can discuss treatment and prevention of UTIs with their healthcare professional.

10. Burning mouth

A burning mouth is another potential symptom of menopause. It may manifest as a feeling of burning, tenderness, tingling, heat, or numbing in or around the mouth. This is another potential result of hormonal changes.

The mucus hormones in the mouth have sex hormone receptors, which decrease with a decline in estrogen. This can contribute to pain and discomfort.

11. Changes in taste

Some people may notice changes in their sense of taste, with stronger flavors, during menopause. They may also experience a dry mouth, which can increase their risk of developing gum disease or cavities.

12. Fatigue

Fatigue can be a distressing and sometimes debilitating menopause symptom. This could be the result of lower-quality sleep due to hot flashes and night sweats, or it may be a direct consequence of hormonal fluctuations themselves.

13. Acne

Acne is a condition that people commonly associate with adolescence. However, a 2019 paper notes that it is a growing concern among people experiencing menopause.

The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) states that because a person’s skin typically becomes drier and thinner during menopause, typical acne treatments can be too harsh. They recommend the following ways to help treat and prevent menopausal acne:

  • Washing the face using a product that contains salicylic acid.
  • Avoiding acne products that may dry the skin.
  • Consulting a dermatologist if acne is unmanageable.

14. Digestive symptoms

Sex hormones influence the microbes a person has in their mouth and digestive tract. This can mean that during menopause, gut flora changes in composition.

Individuals may notice changes in their digestion or that they react differently to certain foods.

15. Joint pain

Estrogen helps decrease inflammation and keep the joints lubricated. As a result, some people experience joint pain due to decreased estrogen in menopause.

16. Muscle tension and aches

Individuals experiencing perimenopause or menopause can also develop muscle tension or aches. This is due to the same factors as menopausal joint pain.

17. Electric shock sensations

Some people can experience sensations that resemble electric shocks during perimenopause and menopause. It is not clear what causes this, but it may be the result of changing hormone levels in the nervous system.

18. Itchiness

As estrogen is related to collagen production and skin hydration, a decline in this hormone can lead to increased itchiness or dryness, typically around the vulva, but may also occur elsewhere.

19. Sleep disturbance

An individual’s sleep can become lighter or disrupted for many reasons during menopause. They may wake frequently due to night sweats, wake up earlier, or have more difficulty falling asleep.

20. Difficulty concentrating

A decline in estrogen can sometimes cause mental fogginess or difficulty concentrating. Hot flashes and sleep issues may also be contributing factors.

21. Memory lapses

As with concentration and focus, menopause can also affect memory. Again, this could be a direct result of lower estrogen levels or compromised sleep.

22. Thinning hair

Hair loss or thinning can also occur around menopause. This may cause a widening part or hair loss around the crown. Some may have a receding hairline.

However, there are many other causes of hair loss, so it is important to speak with a doctor about this symptom. It can be a symptom of conditions that need treatment.

23. Brittle nails

During or after menopause, the body may not produce enough keratin, which is the substance that nails need to stay strong. This can lead to brittle, weak nails that are prone to cracking or breaking easily.

24. Weight gain

Individuals can gain weight due to several factors during menopause. A decline in estrogen can lead to weight gain, as can a reduction in physical activity. Mood changes can also mean that a person eats differently than they usually do.

25. Stress incontinence

Stress incontinence is when urine leaks during activities that put pressure on the bladder, such as sneezing. This symptom is common during menopause, as changes in hormone levels can cause the bladder and pelvic muscles to become weaker.

26. Dizzy spells

A 2018 study states that dizziness is one of the most common symptoms of menopause. However, the reasons for this are not fully undersood.

A 2024 study notes that changing hormone levels may affect the vestibular system, which regulates a person’s sense of balance. Disturbances to this system could cause vertigo.

There may also be a link with anxiety and other physical changes.

27. Easier bruising

Some people may find they bruise more easily during menopause. This is also due to thinner skin.

Wounds may also heal more slowly. However, frequent bruising and slow wound healing can also be a sign of an underlying condition, so speak with a doctor if this happens regularly.

28. Osteoporosis

During perimenopause, a decline in estrogen can also result in a loss of bone density. In severe cases, this can lead to osteoporosis, a condition that causes the bones to become more fragile and prone to breaking easily.

29. Heart palpitations

Some people may experience palpitations during or after menopause. It is always a good idea to discuss symptoms relating to the heart with a healthcare professional.

30. Tinnitus

Tinnitus involves hearing a sound that has no external cause. This can include ringing in the ears, roaring, or buzzing. It may affect one or both ears.

While the exact prevalence is unknown, a 2018 study has shown that people going through menopause may experience tinnitus. This research has also shown that hormonal therapy (HT) may help treat tinnitus.

31. Irritability

Either due to hormonal fluctuations or the effect of other menopause symptoms, people experiencing this change may feel irritable. Stress or a lack of sleep may also contribute to this.

32. Depression

For some people, hormonal imbalances may trigger depression. A lack of sleep and stress can contribute to this.

In some cases, menopause may trigger depression or low mood because of the change it signifies. Any significant life change can play a role in depression, even if the change is a positive one.

33. Anxiety

Anxiety is another mood-related symptom that some people experience during menopause. It may worsen at night or only occur intermittently as hormone levels fluctuate.

Both menopause-related depression and anxiety may be situational and improve once hormones level out.

34. Panic disorder

In some cases, individuals may experience panic attacks during menopause. When these attacks occur unexpectedly or suddenly, they can indicate panic disorder. This may occur due to hormonal changes or the fear of experiencing anxiety itself.

People will not necessarily experience all 34 of these symptoms during menopause. Some may only experience one or two. Others may have more symptoms, but they may be mild.

If symptoms become disruptive, there are several treatments that a person can try to reduce discomfort, including:

  • HT, which temporarily replaces hormones such as estrogen
  • vaginal estrogen, which can improve lubrication and prevent dryness
  • antidepressants, which can reduce mood-related symptoms and improve hot flashes

There are also several lifestyle changes and self-care practices that can help alleviate symptoms, such as:

If an individual is experiencing new or unexplained symptoms, they should speak with a healthcare professional. Other health conditions can cause the symptoms associated with menopause, so it is important to rule these out.

Individuals should also consider speaking with a healthcare professional if their menopause symptoms are causing distress or disruption to their lives. If they are having difficulty sleeping, finding it difficult to work, or experiencing severe mood changes, some treatments may help.

Among the most common symptoms of menopause are hot flashes, mood changes, fatigue, and irregular periods. However, people experience menopause differently.

It is important that healthcare professionals rule out other potential explanations for these symptoms, as menopause is not the only factor that could cause them.