Menopause is a natural period in most women's lives. This transitional time most often occurs between 45 to 55 years of age, according to MedlinePlus, a website of the National Institutes of Health. The condition is characterized by the cessation of egg production in the ovaries, decreased levels of sex hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, and less frequent menstrual periods that eventually halt altogether. The symptoms of menopause can cause distress to some women.
Night Sweats and Hot Flashes
Hot flashes are sudden sensations of heat located at the woman's upper body, according to National Health Services UK. The heat usually starts in the face, chest or neck and proceed to spread across the body. Night sweats are hot flashes that occur in the evening. These symptoms usually last only a few minutes and are most common during the year after a woman's final period.
During the hot flashes, a woman's skin on the face, neck, or chest may redden. The patient may start to sweat and experience a change in heart rate. The heart may speed up, slow down, or beat much more forcefully. These physical changes last as long as the hot flashes.
Changes in Menstruation
A woman's monthly cycle is controlled by the sexual hormones produced by the kidneys, as reported by Women's Health. In menopause, the hormones are thrown into an imbalance. This imbalance leads to a delayed or advanced menstrual period. Some women may experience periods as frequently as every three weeks, while others may have only menstruate every two to three months. The amount of bleeding during each menstrual period also changes. Eventually a woman's period will stop permanently. After one year of absent periods, a woman is no longer at risk of becoming pregnant.
Behavioral Changes
Women undergoing menopause may experience mood swings, as reported by MedlinePlus. These behavioral changes include irritability, depression and anxiety. These changes are not purely psychological. Hormones normally control emotional state. In the hormonal imbalance associated with menopause, mood may fluctuate wildly. These changes may cause the patient distress. Any patients experiencing severe changes or emotional difficulties should seek medical advice.
Insomnia
Menopausal women may have difficulty sleeping because of night sweats or anxiety due to hormonal imbalances, according to Women's Health. The lack of sleep may cause patients to become irritable and may affect short-term memory. Patients may also complain of a difficulty concentrating. There are various sleeping aids or replacement hormones that can help the patient sleep and thus eradicate any consequences of lack of sleep.
