As much as many women may complain about their monthly menstrual cycles, the fact is that it is rare that a woman looks forward to going through menopause. Just about every woman has a hard time going through menopause. In a lot of ways it can be akin to going through another puberty but, this time, the woman knows exactly what is happening to her and how her menopause symptoms are affecting her loved ones' lives. It's important that each person understands the different symptoms of menopause so that they can help the women they know work through the difficult transition. If one of the women in your life is close to the age where menopause starts, here are some of the symptoms that you should watch out for.
Perhaps the most recognizable menopause symptoms is the mood swing. This menopause symptom makes menopause look a lot like puberty and early pregnancy (which is kind of ironic). Menopause mood swings are often sudden and irrational. She can be absolutely calm one moment. The next minute she will have burst into tears over something that wouldn't have bothered her at all before. If one of the women in your life has started having these kinds of mood swings and isn't pubescent or pregnant it is possible that she might be menopausal. Be sensitive!
For a woman over 40 symptoms of pregnancy might also be symptoms of menopause. One of these mirrored symptoms is extreme fatigue. "Crashing" fatigue is a common symptom of menopause. I am not talking about just feeling a little tired after a long day at work, i'm talking about major fatigue. The type of fatigue I am talking about is bad enough you might not be physically capable of getting out of bed. The fatigue she might feel could cause her to require several hours of sleep in the middle of the day. More than likely if your loved one is experiencing this type of fatigue, mother nature is playing a role.
Having increased itching levels is often a menopause symptom that gets overlooked. Some women who are going through their "change of life" report their skin feeling constantly itchy or like their skin is crawling. This is a different feeling than you get with dry skin.
The best description we've found is "ants crawling under my skin." This can be very disturbing for some women who aren't sure what it is that they are feeling. You should call your doctor if your skin is particularly itchy or you can't seem to stop scratching. You might have developed a simple skin condition. This could be a symptom of your impending (or actual) menopause. Menopause symptoms are varied. Two women could have the same basic menopause symptoms but experience them completely differently. For some women, the symptoms are only mild. Still other women have symptoms that almost cripple them. When you understand your own symptoms you can help other people deal with menopause symptoms as well--after all, the people in your life will have to help you through this change! These are just some of the symptoms you might go through. A conversation with your doctor will help you identify the other things you should be looking for.