The transition into menopause affects each woman uniquely and in various ways. our body begins to use energy differently, fat cells change, and you may gain weight more easily and start experiencing other symptoms.
I explain everything we know about menopause symptoms.
Happy reading!😀
Any questions? remarks? Let’s meet in the comments section at the end of this article.🙏
Last updated: Oct 2024. Written by Juliet Semakula, a diagnostic radiographer.
Disclaimer: no affiliate links.
▶️What is the difference between the term perimenopause and post menopause?
The term Menopause in simple terms is when periods stop for good due to lower hormone levels. It’s diagnosed after 12 months without a menstrual period, vaginal bleeding or spotting.
The process happens slowly over three stages, the perimenopause defined as the early stage and late menopause transition stages.
Followed by the early post-menopause as a window of vulnerability for the development of both depressive symptoms and major depressive episodes.
This period usually affects any woman who has periods between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can happen earlier.
So many women at that age report an increase in pain around the perimenopause and menopause stages.
▶️What are the stages of menopause?
🟠Perimenopause phase ,your menstrual cycles are regular, there are no symptoms. Your cycles will become irregular, but they haven’t stopped. Most women hit this stage around age 47. .
🟠Menopause. This is when you’ll have your final menstrual period.
🟠 Post-menopause. This begins when you hit the 12 months mark from your final period.
Menopause can also happen for different reasons such as:
🟠Surgery to remove the ovaries (oophorectomy) or the uterus (hysterectomy).
🟠Cancer treatments like chemotherapy.
🟠Genetic reason and sometimes the reason is unknown.
▶️Why do you have more pain during menopause?
During the perimenopause and menopause period your hormone levels fall, this can cause muscle and joint pains.
The risk of pain is highest during perimenopause and post menopause. 6 out of 10 women around the time of menopause describe pain in one or more joints, not in the muscles or periarticular tissues.
Magliano 2010
Some women claim to usually experience joint pain most in the mornings, as this is when hormone levels tend to be lowest.
A cross-sectional analysis study done in some research papers analysed pain with midlife women and these were their results:
13% of women aged 54 +, had menopause symptoms, 52% had chronic pain, and 22% had ≥2 distinct chronic pain diagnoses.
Gibson 2019.
Pain has been linked to the joint and tendon response to the decline in sex hormones as well as sarcopenia.
Perimenopausal pain is therefore most likely due to these hormonal fluctuations that our body is trying to get used to.
▶️What are the different types of menopause pain we can feel and what causes them?
When your oestrogen levels start declining because of menopause it can affect your joints resulting in general:
♦️Muscle pain
♦️Tendons pain
♦️ Nerves or neurological pain
Oestrogen affects your cartilage which is the connective tissue in joints as well as the replacement of bone which plays part in inflammation and pain
▶️How do you know if the pain is due to menopause or something else?
Perimenopause and menopause are triggered by hormones that fluctuate and decrease.
You will know if the pain is due to menopause when you start experiencing pain in different parts of your body because as hormonal levels decline many parts of the body are affected.
These include the reproductive system, vaginal tract, urinary system, nervous system, heart, hair, brain, bones, skin.
And a common symptom among all these is pain associated with hormonal changes.
▶️How do I know how close I am to menopause?
You may be transitioning into menopause if you begin experiencing some or all the following symptoms:
You may have any or all these symptoms while going through menopause.
🟢Irregular periods or periods that are heavier or lighter than usual.
🟢Hot flashes and night sweats, also known as vasomotor symptoms (a sudden feeling of warmth that spreads over your body).
🟢Cramps and breast tenderness during period times.
🟢Migraine headaches: Fluctuations in oestrogen are linked to migraine headaches.
This may be because high levels of oestrogen can trigger headaches and diminishing levels can cause a decrease.
🟢Joint pain that can affect the knees, shoulders, neck, elbows, or hands. Also old joint injuries may begin to ache
🟢Bruising that can be caused by a Low level of oestrogen causing a decrease in skin’s elasticity to retain water, which is used as a buffer against injury
🟢Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that is often diagnosed for the first time in women entering perimenopause or menopause.
🟢Pain and dryness sometimes can accompany sex when you’re in menopause. As oestrogen levels recede, vaginal tissues get thinner.
This can make intercourse painful. The vagina also becomes less lubricated, and more prone to inflammation, dryness, and tearing.
Not everyone experiences these symptoms, but you will be able to tell especially if you do not have any other health problems.
However, as you move into the postmenopausal phase, this often decreases in intensity, allowing for more comfortable physical activity and better quality of life.
At the same time the cause of your pain may be unrelated to the menopause. Pain is always something that has several causes: it is said to be “multifactorial”.
For example, factors like age, weight, physical activity, previous injury or underlying medical condition can all contribute to pain.
▶️What can be done to avoid or relieve pain?
Changes in your hormones during menopause can impact your mental health as well as your physical health. You may experience feelings of anxiety, stress or even depression.
You may decide to seek the advice of one or more health professionals to support you in managing your symptoms.
Studies show that 60-86% of women experience symptoms so bothersome that they seek medical care. However, many feel misunderstood and disappointed that their concerns are not addressed.
Many women never receive treatment because when ever they consult medical help, they find limited communications and knowledge about the subject
As a result, most women often pursue relief on their own with unpredictable success.
When you decide to get treatment for your symptoms your doctor may recommend pain reducing medications such as:
🟢Over the counter pain medication, such as NSAIDs (ibuprofen) may help with joint pain, or with headache.
🟢Ice packs can help reduce knee and lower back pain.
🟢Dietary supplements, such as evening primrose oil, may help reduce breast tenderness.
🟢Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
There is some evidence that HRT can help with musculoskeletal pains caused by menopause.
HRT is the most effective way of managing menopause symptoms and improves the overall quality of life, energy levels and sleep.
It is currently estimated that approximately a million women in the UK are taking HRT for control of their menopausal symptoms.
Vigneswaren, 2021
The available evidence suggests that HRT can be offered to healthy women during the perimenopause or early post menopause with moderate to severe symptoms, as the benefits outweigh the risks in this age group.
The decision to undergo hormone replacement therapy, the dose, and duration of its use, is always made on an individualised basis after discussing the benefits and risks with you.
If your aches and pains are related to the menopause and you do not want to take any medication, there are several things that can help.
🟩Sticking to exercise and weight control routine sticking may help you lose extra pounds and stay at a healthy weight
🟩Posture and work environment
🟩Stress reduction
🟩If necessary, rest or elevate the affected limb you are feeling pain, change sleeping positions
🟩Apply ice or heat and wear compression to relieve swelling.
🟩See a physiotherapist among other health professionals that can advise you more.
▶️How long does menopause last?
Symptoms can last for months or years and can change with time.
For example, hot flushes and night sweats may improve, and then you may develop low mood and anxiety.
Some symptoms, such as joint pain and vaginal dryness, can carry on after your periods stop.
▶️Do you feel better after menopause?
In post-menopause, symptoms of menopause may have eased or stopped entirely, but some women continue to have symptoms for longer.
The change in your body’s hormones however is a sign to keep looking after your health and wellbeing, and be mindful to listen to your body.
We have come to the end of this article, wishing you a quick recovery!🙋
📚Source:
Magliano M. Menopausal arthralgia: Fact or fiction. Maturitas. 2010 Sep;67(1):29-33. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2010.04.009. PMID: 20537472.
Gibson CJ, Li Y, Bertenthal D, Huang AJ, Seal KH. Menopause symptoms and chronic pain in a national sample of midlife women veterans. Menopause. 2019 Jul;26(7):708-713. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001312. PMID: 30839364.
Duralde ER, Sobel TH, Manson JE. Management of perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms. BMJ. 2023 Aug 8;382:e072612. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2022-072612. Erratum in: BMJ. 2023 Aug 29;382:p1977. doi: 10.1136/bmj.p1977. Erratum in: BMJ. 2023 Nov 13;383:p2636. doi: 10.1136/bmj.p2636. PMID: 37553173.
Vigneswaran K, Hamoda H. Hormone replacement therapy – Current recommendations. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2022 May;81:8-21. doi: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2021.12.001. Epub 2021 Dec 14. PMID: 35000809.
Jin LY, Song XX, Li XF. The role of oestrogen in intervertebral disc degeneration. Steroids. 2020 Feb;154:108549. doi: 10.1016/j.steroids.2019.108549. Epub 2019 Dec 6. PMID: 31812622.