Know the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause

Hot flashes, mood changes, insomnia and other symptoms related to menopause can appear several years before your periods actually stop. Fortunately, the OB/GYNs at Northwest Associates for Women's Healthcare in Hoffmann Estates, IL, offer treatments and advice that can make it easier to handle menopause-related symptoms.

What you can expect

Decreasing hormone levels cause many changes in your body as menopause approaches. When estrogen and progesterone production slows, you may be more likely to experience a few of these signs and symptoms:

• Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: Hot flashes often occur without any warning and can last a few seconds to 10 minutes or longer. Hot flashes can be mild or severe. You may feel only slightly warmer or experience your own personal heat wave that leaves you drenched in sweat. Night sweats wake you up from a sound sleep and make finding a comfortable sleeping temperature difficult.
• Changing Periods: Your periods may become heavier, shorter, longer, or irregular as you approach menopause. You will be officially in menopause when you haven't had a period in 12 months.
• Dryness: Vaginal dryness can make sex painful and may even make sitting uncomfortable.
• Insomnia: Whether you suffer from night sweats or not, you may find it more challenging to sleep. Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep can cause constant fatigue and may affect your ability to carry out your usual daily tasks.
• Dry, Itchy Skin: Is your skin dry and itchy no matter how much moisturizer you use? Estrogen is necessary for the production of skin oils and collagen, a protein that keeps the skin supple. When your estrogen level drops during menopause, you may notice that your skin becomes thin, dry, and itchy. Thinning hair may also be a problem.
• Incontinence: Hormonal changes decrease the elasticity of tissues in your urethra and vagina, which may cause urinary leakage or incontinence.
• Weight Gain: Menopause causes your metabolism to slow down, making it much easier to gain weight. In fact, you may be gaining weight even if you haven't been eating any more than usual.

During a visit to the Hoffman Estates, IL, OB/GYN office, your doctor can recommend treatments and strategies that will ease your symptoms and help you feel more like yourself.

Are you having a hard time managing your menopause symptoms? Call Hoffman Estates, IL, OB/GYNs at Northwest Estates for Women's Healthcare at (847) 884-1800 to schedule an appointment.