Health Tip: Symptoms of Menopause

(HealthDay News) -- Menopause, a natural process that may take between five and 15 years, occurs when a woman''s monthly ovulation cycle ends, resulting in the cessation of the monthly menstrual cycle. Most women experience menopause somewhere around age 50.

Due to the dramatic changes in hormones in a woman''s body during menopause, there are a variety of symptoms she may experience. To help identify the onset of menopause, the Association of Women for the Advancement of Research and Education (AWARE) lists these common symptoms:

• Hot flashes, cold flashes, night sweats and clammy skin.
• Moodiness, depression, anxiety, irritability and unexplained crying.
• Sleep disturbances or insomnia.
• Irregular menstrual cycles, including unusually light or heavy bleeding or unusually short or long cycles.
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering or paying attention
• Headaches, dizziness, fatigue, muscle aches, gastrointestinal problems, or tender breasts.
• Lost or thinning hair on the scalp or an increase or thickening of facial hair.

-- Diana Kohnle

Last Updated: July 17, 2006