Menopause: 62 symptoms you may not know are associated with the condition, according to a doctor

The menopause is usually associated with common symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats and tiredness.

But there may be a higher number of symptoms than you think, with one doctor noting 62 signs of the condition.

So, what are the symptoms of menopause and how can they be treated? Here’s what you need to know.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

Menopause is when your periods stop due to lower hormone levels and usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55, but can start earlier. According to the NHS, symptoms can last for months or years and can change with time. For example, hot flushes and night sweats may improve, but then you may develop low mood and anxiety.

Perimenopause is when you have symptoms before your periods have stopped. You reach menopause when you have not had a period for 12 months.

But research commissioned by hygiene and health company Essity, who teamed up with menopause specialist Dr Naomi Potter, found more than 60 symptoms associated with the menopause.

Dr Potter said: “The reason why it is so hard to pinpoint the number of symptoms is also because not all are associated with peri or menopause – people do obviously suffer with other ailments which are totally unrelated.”

These are 62 symptoms of menopause according to Dr Potter:

1. Palpitations
2. Chest pain
3. Breast tenderness
4. Itchy skin
5. Dry Skin
6. Rosacea
7. Acne
8. Thin skin
9. Collagen loss
10. Crying
11. Brain Fog
12. Memory Loss
13. Poor concentration
14. Word finding difficulty
15. Anxiety
16. Low mood
17. Worsening PMS
18. Anger/ Rage
19. Irritability
20. Headache
21. Migraines
22. Joint Pain
23. Joint stiffness
24. Vaginal Dryness
25. Vaginal discharge
26. Vulval itch
27. Perineal itch
28. Vulval/ vaginal electric shocks
29. Increase in thrush
30. Increase in BV
31. Poor libido
32. High libido
33. Weight gain
34. Scalp Hair loss
35. Unwanted Hair growth
36. Urinary Infections
37. Urinary incontinence
38. Urinary urgency
39. Nocturia (getting up at night)
40. Sexual Dysfunction
41. Chest Pain
42. Constipation
43. Gastric reflux
44. Fatigue
45. Night Sweats
46. Hot flushes
47. Cold flushes
48. Period increased frequency
49. Periods decreased frequency
50. Heavier periods
51. Muscle Loss
52. Tinnitus
53. Dry eyes
54. Watery eyes
55. Burning mouth
56. Gum disease
57. Foot pain
58. Frozen shoulder
59. Insomnia
60. Histamine sensitivity
61. New allergy
62. Body odour change

How are menopause symptoms treated?

The main medicine treatment for menopause and perimenopause symptoms is hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which replaces the hormones that are at low levels, but there are other treatments if you cannot, or choose not to, have HRT.

HRT involves using oestrogen to replace your body’s own levels around the time of the menopause, with different types and doses of HRT.

Oestrogen comes as:

• skin patches
• a gel or spray to put on the skin
• implants
• tablets

If you have a womb (uterus) you also need to take progesterone to protect your womb lining from the effects of oestrogen, said the NHS. Taking oestrogen and progesterone is called combined HRT.

Progesterone comes as:

• patches, as part of a combined patch with oestrogen
• IUS (intrauterine system, or coil)
• tablets