Five Menopause Symptoms that Will Most Likely Happen to You

Different women experience menopause at different times in their life. Some start seeing menopause symptoms as early as during their 30s, while others still have to wait for their 60s to see what all the fuss is about. Statistically speaking, though, the average age for a woman to experience menopause is 51. Give or take a couple of years and expect that to be around the time you will be having yours.

Here are the five most common menopause symptoms to serve as the signal that you are already in that stage. Nothing much can be done about it (except to cope with its symptoms), so you might as well prepare yourself for the symptoms caused by hormonal changes in your body as you age.

1. Irregular Periods: By the time you reach 45, you will most likely be experiencing irregular periods for the next 10 years or so. Most women have irregular periods during their menopause. Later on, the irregular periods taper off into no period at all. The irregularity varies from woman-to-woman. You may experience shorter intervals of periods, while others may have to wait longer for theirs to come. Bleeding may be light, sort of like spotting, for some people; but for others, bleeding is unusually heavy. This is caused by the irregularities in the production of estrogen and progesterone and it is a normal sign of menopause.

2. Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: Hot flashes vary, ranging from mild passing warmth in the upper body to severe heat that may seem like flames engulfing the entire body. A hot flash can last from two minutes up to more than half an hour. The more severe cases of hot flashes are accompanied by other symptoms such as heart palpitations, dizziness, headaches, and a cold chill that blasts you right after a bout of hot flashes. This is also one of the most common menopause symptoms. Fortunately, there are many natural and easy ways to treat hot flashes.

3. Vaginal Dryness and Loss of Libido: Like the other menopause symptoms, a lack of interest in sexual activity is mostly caused by the hormonal changes in the body. The production of estrogen in particular, significantly decreases during menopause, causing the thinning of the vaginal walls, decreased lubrication, and irritation during sex. Loss of libido can also be caused by psychological and relationship factors, such as stress, fatigue, aging concerns, changes in the relationship, lack of communication, or family factors.

4. Mood Swings, Depression, and Irritability: One minute, you are on top of the world, the next minute, you are the most irritable person ever. Mood swings and irritability are common signs of menopause. These are caused by the imbalance of estrogen, which further leads to the brain's over-reaction to stimuli. Irritability can also be worsened by other menopause symptoms such as loss of libido, vaginal drying, and hot flashes. Depression, on the other hand, is more serious than irritability. Major depression, which can last longer than two weeks, needs to be treated by a medical expert.

5. Memory Loss: Menopausal memory loss is most likely loss of short-term and recent memory. Women who experience this symptom are roughly more than half of the entire population. They often have trouble recalling names, dates, and numbers, especially when the information is fresh. Remembering where you put your keys or your reading glasses may also be a problem. Short-term and recent memory loss are normal menopausal symptoms, but if cases are severe, memory loss may evolve into Alzheimer's disease, brain infection, attention-deficit disorder, or head trauma.